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Enteraa : m- Second.class fnatter- Pecembei^:X3-a406r-aV-th»-Posfr-omc«^^-4^W-Yorlc,- N- T.. undg . c ■ th e a ot-of-tHn'c h 1 . 1 »T»- 
-■- v ' r - — -COPMIGIW, ;i94l, BY ^ABiBi^ .Alili. RItiHTS BESERVKD;' : 



VOfc 141 NOi 4 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 19*41 



PRICE 25 GENTS 








MP. 





MBankroDt 



Hollywood, Dec. 31.; • 
. San Fernando , Valley, north of 
Hoirywopd, has been selected aa the 
•ite . for the Motion Picture Relief 
Fund home for indigent film work- 
ers^ with $800,000 currently on hand 
for building expenses. Construction 
starts when the titles to various par- 
cels of land, now iii . escrow, have 
been cleared. 

There is still a difference of opin- 
ion among, the board members about 
the architecture. Some are. in favor 
of large dormitories and some are 
for niore homelike cottages. Con- 
struction plans, fqr both ideas have 
been iinder consideration for several 
months and may end in a oompro- 
imise. Admission to the home is In- 
clusive of any branch of . the film in- 
dustry, although practically the 
whole building fund' has been raised 
thru voluntary appearance by mem- 
bers of the Screen Actors Guild and 
other groups with the same thought 
In mind. SAG draws $10,000 weekly, 
with all performers donating their 
•ervices, from the Gulf Oil Co. 

For a time the Will Rogers ranch 
near Santa. Monica was under con- 
sideration as a possible site for the 
Fund horne, but the committee de- 
elded on the 40 acres In the Valley^ 



(15. Tax Threat Spurs 
ASCAP to Cut Up Its 
$800,000 War Chest 



Script-Gasting 



Electrician - in e m b e r of the 
stagehands union, .with a sizable 
bankroll : after "SO/ consecutive 
weeks with the sarhe. show oii 
Broadway and the ipad, is now 
a . trifle choosey about his next 
assignment. 

Offered a job last week with, 
a new production being readied 
for an out-of-town tfyout prep-, 
aratbry to Broadway, he asked 
to read the script before decid- 
ing. 



Writer .and publisher members, of 
the American Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers wrill be en- 
riched accumulatively this . week by 
another $800,000 as the result of an 
extra distribution authorized by the versity 
Society's board of direrflors Thurs- 
day (i26). The money had been exr 
tracted from each quarter's collec- 
tions during 1940 si) that the organi- 
zation would have a nest-egg if the 
major: part of the broadcasting in- 
dustry failed to irienew with ASCAP 
Jan, 1. After the royalty melon for 
the' final . '40 quarter was distributed 
Dec. 20, the Society learned thsit this 
proposed hest-egg would be subject 
to heavy Federal taxation. . 

The accumulated funds were to he 
used to sivell .the distributions dur- 
ing 1941. Because of the . divvy 
Drought about by the tax situation, 
and published members will 
" the radio, ilght' persists/ receive 
only their share of the license fees, 
actually .(jollected by ASCAP during 
each, quarter. Distribution for : final 
quarter of 1940 was around $1,300,000. 



BMI'S ^1,006,000 rarsuRANCE 

.^oadcast/ Musib, • Irici, took out 
.?1.000,000 in copyright insurance to 
Protect_artistSrJStati6ns: and agencies; 
against post-New Year's iopyright 
infringements. 

Seaboard and Underwriters pom-' 
pames .t(jpk $250,000 each, and In- 
demnity Insurance handled the re- 
maining $500,000 of the total policy. 



WOMEN'S CLUBS 
GANG UP ON 
ACTRESS 



Hollywood, Deci 31. 
Wave. of . sentiment a g. a I n 8 t 
a femme star, generaled by wo- 
men's clubs throughout the coun- 
Iry/is having serious repercussibnsih 
Hollywood. Attempts by Hays of- 
fice and those studios which hold 
future commitments witii actress to 
head off the carhpaign is failing to 
stem the tide, and theatre operators 
are plenty worried over her cUrrent 
releases. . , . 

Studios and theatries have been 
notified by the Federation of 
Women's Clubs, Daughters of tiie 
Ameriban Revolution and the .Uni- 
Wpmen's Club that this 
actress is . listed V 'undesirable.' 
Parent-Teachers Association is also 
reported ; joining : the ; . movenieht 
against the Vfemmie, with several 
local PT A' groups subjecting >ier pic- 
tures to a virtual blacklist. . ■ V 

Clubwomen have takeii up the cry 
against: . the player for the: past 
five- weeks aftei: a i^tory: got around 
of an episode in' a. Hollywood, 
nitery. Studio publicity: deparf- 
liierits handling her pictures are 
finding it difficult to .plant copy or 
plug her with . syndicated... and fan 
mags. ■ 7 ■.; 




Major Film Officiails in Coast 
Pow^yows This Month :—; 
: Chart .Consent Decree 
Course 



OUTSIDE PRODUCERS 



V Hollywood, Dec. 31. ' 
' Execs of the eight major film dis- 
tributing companies and those of at 
least one of the bigger indie outfits 
will haye a pretty definite idea of 
the makeup, of their 1941-42 product 
slates by the end of January. With 
Universal's home office and studio; 
toppers already huddling here on 
vehicles and budgets for next sea- 
son, eastern and .western chiefs of 
other concerns, including Metro, 
20th-Fox, Paramount, Warners, RKO, 
United Artists, Columbia and Repub- 
lic, will gather at their respective 
Coast plants within the next three 
weelts for similar confabs. 
' Forthcoming war councils will be 
the most important ever held here, 
for they have been called to. plot re- 
gearing of production, machinery to 
bring product into line with terms 
of the consSnJ decree. _In all case s, 
mauer ol^swelling fop a'nd rfiidclfe- 
class player contract rosters will be 
discussed. Both, home office and 
studio moguls realize even 'B' prod- 
uct will have to carry something in 
way pf fnarquee ba.it. Then, there's 
the matter of strengthening producer 
personnel on practically all majbf 
lots.. " 

20t1i Wants: 10-12 Oiitside Fix 

20th-Fox execs making no secret of 
fact they are willing to take in from 
10 to 12 outside; pictures^, for 1941- 
42 but even they doubt whether they 
will be able to : find that m;any :. to. 
j niiatch the .Staiidard of t[ieir. own out- 
Iput;.: .■v: ■:;•:;;■•.• -W 'm 

>'rhey yrill get three from William 
iHawks' United Productions, a profit- 
(Continued bh piage 12) 



QHINK DRAW THEIR 
PINK SLIP FROM 20TH 



HoUywopd, Dec. 31. 

Dionne quints cease to be contract, 
players for .20th-Fox unless they 
break out with, a new .routine before: 
the, pact runs piit' riPxt: inpnth." 

The five, little gals have appeared 
in twd features, 'The Country DoctPr' 
and 'Reunion,'.. -for the Westwbod 
lot, and three shorts for RKO. . 20th- 
Fox is permitting; its . contract, to 
lapse. 




ASCAP VS. BMI 



; With ASCAP's 1935-1940 con- 
tract expiring inidnight, Dec. 31, 
these are curreht music war de- 
• veldpmentsr : ■ , • 

Stations . signing with ASCAP 
(page 19)» 

Stations signing with BMI 
(page 19). . 

More Wisconsin Indictments 
(page 20). 

No truce Expected (page 19). 



SUIt(»lEGlT 






Sunday (29) . performances on 
Broadway saw the best .business 
since the experiment started. Out 
of eight shows which played that 
evening, only two were under prer 
vious Sab baths , while three drew 
slfiFbiig'"~gfos.ses, "The" President's 
speech did not affect patronage. 
Virtual capacity was registered by 
'The Man Who Came to Dinner,' 
Music Box; 'Hellzapoppin,' Win- 
ter Garden, and 'It Happens Qn 
Ice,' Center, Radio (iity.. How much 
price-cutting at .the . bpxoffices wa» 
resorted to wais not indicated, but 
such reductions have featured Sun- 
days So far. ■ , 

*Ice,'. with its. popular .scale and 
large ciapacity house;- was the .topper 
with takings - of $4,400. With .that 
start, a big: Monday (30) mfatihee 
and sellouts: virtually sure for both 
performances last night (New Year's 
.Eve)) the rink revue Is; certain to 
register a new high, .Gross for this 
week should approacjtl the $50,000 
miaric. .. ■•. 






res 




Thinks Tourists Get Cbck-Eyed Coiiceptipii of Life 
From Havana; Niteries 



; The rhumba, Havana cabarets and 
.New York night; spots., were v rather' 
severely criticized during a - brda.d-'. 
c^st from Cuban capital of . 'The. Peo- 
ple's Platform/ pn subject of .; prP- 
nibting- American unity by educa- 
tion. Dr. Ramos, Cuban, secretary of 
education, repeatedly referred' dispar- 
agingly to the rhumba. He declared 
it is bnly a professional dance— they 
don't dance it in society! Dr. Ramos 
also advocated that 'the. government 
take charge' of tourists and steer 
thenri away from Hava.na.cabai-ets. 



I Visitors woud never "understand, 
j the soui of a- nation, by 'making' such 
j night spots. Neither they, the dance 
j nbr rhumba music 'weire typical , of 

Cuba.-: Another: round tabler siig- 
I gestedv Americans could becprrte ac- 
; quainted with this pihase of Cuban 
I life 'at less expense? in New . York. 

Point was similarly/made that Guban 
;. or Latin American visitors to • this 
! country could not hope to obtain la 

proper pictiire of the Unlted^Stales, 
' its life; culture: and Ideas In Manhat- 
I tan night clubs. 



By JACK BOBBINS 

(President, Bobbins Music Co.) 

ril say this for the ASCAP-radid 
fight; it's bbund to wake up . the vet- 
eran writers to writing. We call a 
certain portion of Lindy's the 'has 
been corner,' When it should be Siii 
amen corner, in view b^some 61 th« 
most distinguished American song< . 
writers who sit around of nights, lap 
up_^^ gallons of coffee^ mastermind the 
world's ills, dope : the : winhers^and 
never write, a song. 

You can't tell me they're written 
out— a cdntempoiiary named Berli 
isn't doing badly, ■ 

But, at the saime time, you .can't 
tell me that BMI is going to turn 
Tin Pan Alley upside dowiii : with -its 
ballyhoo about giving the .'amateurs 
a chance. It sounds all right on pa- 
per, but what has BMI got to show 
for it? 'There I Go?' I'd be sur- 
prised if it sold :75,00(> copies. 'I Give 
You My Wojd,' 'Practice Makes Per-, 
feet'. what? So what? ' 

When you consider that, becauss 
of the : radio broadcasters': support, 
these soh^s are being pounded on an 
(Continued on piage 47 ) 



Orivinal S. F. 'Nanette', 
Found in Dept Store, 
" nCHcks AhW on Stage 



San Francisco, Dec. 3il. 
Bi;,'gest. surprise this town has had 
in weeks is the instant clicko of 
Nancy Welford at the RKO Golden 
: Gate this week. Several nlte spots, 
arc reportedly, dickering for the for- 
mer musical comedy staraii a result. 
; Miss Wtlford was booked in at. the 
last minute when somebody: called 
.mairtager George. Bole's attention to 
the fact that the origmal Nanette of 
the Frisco cpmpany; of 'No, No, Nan- 
ette,' his current screen attractiori, 
was workinig in a downtown depl^art- 
ment store. Gal was a^pproached 
and jumped at , chance to' get "back 
before the footlights. ^ . : . 
■ She's apparently just as effective: 
now" as she. was in:' musical . comedy 
and in the: early Warner 'Gold Digr 
ger! . films. She . was herje -for six 
months ..on: the Curran stafee as star 
of 'Nanette' ill 1925. : 



1941 MECHANICAL AGE 
VERSION OF JOE MILIER 



. ■ Detroit, Dec, 31. : • 
Ganadian X<egibns in. thel Detroit 
area wiU stage' their benefit, for th« 
. British War Relief Fund on San. 19 
■'in the State Fair Coliseum. ; Fre4. 
• Schader, press, represehtallye, 'sug- ; 
gestcd. ; staging, as a memorial to 
Coventry, 'Lady • G b di.'v.a Ridci : 
■ Agaih.'^ ..;.;.:.. . :; ; ' 

With a Godiva a cihch they have 
. come a cropperr-T-ahd no fpolihg. 
, They sUll haven't been able to un- 
' cover a white horse in this auto.- 
imobile centre..: 



2 MiSiCELLANY 



Wednie^tiy, January 1 , 1 9'1'I 







Wrote It In 1 




Don Fri6hmaii> t:/ic. 5h&ii'j?ioni 
u'Jio died at . 85, ' in JViexp. York; 
Irist thiirsdii)} tDcc,,26) ,. u-as the ■ 
fltttlibr 0j ttoo bopks and sxiiidTy. 
other -fvorks, - The -/ollpiutnfil. 
his Ihit iiUt6ljipj7Tqp?iicdl writino,:. 
(I . selj-rauthorcd.. . otiit which, he 
subiriitted:: to ihe pfess in March; 
1&38, Other Ffohmari /uifiecdoiiL 
on Page ,42. • 



Editor, 



, Marcb' 3d/'l^^ 
bailor 



I enclose sin articie/fot yoyr JVTpr- 
tuary iDepartmeht. :■ As I may ' soon 
pass awayvyou 'rhay vvyant these facts. 
Youts ; very, truly; ■ •. 

' Daniel Frohriian. ... 



Ain't tike It Wuz 



, HonywbQd, Pec. .31, . 

. Woody Van Dyke; lllm director; 

■:ro.se,.ih the military scale when , 

' he became a .ihajor jn the tf. "S; 
Marine Corps, but skidded from 
$5,000 a week to $250 a month >n. 
.theifinanciai-.scale. ... 
' O wner. of- a, swaijk estate i rt. Bel 
Air, the .major ■ Is paying $25 a 
month for his diggings in an, autO' 

. cartip adj.^icent to /the Marine baUr 
racks.; in San piego. : . .' . 



;. .':B'orn'' in -.1851 ■ 

Paniel Frohmah iVas b^in in, San-- 
dusky, Ohio,:Aug. 22, 1851; .He ]has 
been active in Ihe. theatrical business 
for about .60 years. His mother 
brought the family .-from" Sandusky, lo. 
New York- where: he went to school. 
When he was .l4, .h.e ai>s>ve.re(i an ad- 
vei-tisemient; for . a ■ messehiger • boyi 
which was pi^i'inted: in ihie paper ty, 
Albert p. Richardson, then a writer 
on the N. Y. Tribune; ' After three or 
four irionths'. woi'k wit)i.&Ir, Richar.d- 
son, •. Frohmah .-. went west With 
Horace Crreeley, who - was the^ editor 
Of the Tribune, and ran iqr jPresident 
of the United States, and Sehtiyier 
Colfax, who was the Vice-rPresident 
of the United iStateis. 

Before he left, Mr. Richardson- got 
\ (Continued on page 42) - - 








LUqY MONROE 

VStaip -SibanQled Sopranp" ^ . 

Capitol th.6a tL'c,:.\yashington, D/.C, 
Pc.^. - 31st ti) .Jan.- 8th. .- Victor Itod 
■SffaViRecoKds. . 

'. Concert' A/l'a.h.age'tTienir; 
■ \ ARtHOR JUDSON 
tLTAVest ftTth yiroet ■ Is'cw York 



■f ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ : ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » »♦♦♦♦♦ I ♦ ♦ » ♦ t » > i ♦ » > f t! 1 1 »» 

; THE BERLE-EVG POINT; 

"V^B3r..Miltoif Berle.:: ' r- l 



DRAMATISTS PROPOSE 
NEW BASIC 



Under proposed changes In the 
Dramatists Guild's minimum basic 
agreement with Broadway managers, 
all authors, translators, adaptors or . 
collaborators of ' legit .shows .rhust 
Join the Guild. .That -is the. oulstand-. 
Ihg point in the draft of the proposed 
new agreement, received yesterday 
(Tuesday)..bjf the managers. Present, 
agreement . expires Jpeb; 28, • 

Present agreemiehi permits, produ- 
cers to present certain percentage of 
plays by foreign authors! whd are. no't 
Guild rnembers, translations by non- 
members or adaptations of! novels or 
other works of hpn:members: U^n- 
der the proposed new setup, how> 
ever, foreign ' writers, ^trltnslators, 
adaptors, authors of original novels 
adapted: for the, stage, .and all others 
participating in the authorship of 
aT7y stage work would have to join 
the . Guild. " • . . 

Another important change in the 
propsed new agreement relates to 
subsidiary rights to produced plays.. 
Terms governing film or . television 
rights remain the same, the producer 
being entitled to 40% of the proceeds 
for 10 years after the legit produc- 
tion. However, the proposed changes 
would give, a break to the managers 
in the matter of amateur; Stock and 
radio rights. Instead pf losing his. 
share of Siich fights three years after 
a play has ceased being dphe in stock, 
the prPduper Would be entitled to his 
SOtSO split. -of tfee stock, amateur and 
radio rights for fiye years, after the 
Broadway presentatiph. ; 



.Illniess has affected, the cists of . a' 
huWber- of shows oji BrpadWay, - or 
due in; Among :the latter is the delay 
in opening the Playwrights 'The Tal- 
ley; Method', -supppSed tP haye start- 
ed trying put at iPfliicctpn ; last. Sat- 
urday (28). With Jphri Halliday 
d.awned ■ With; pneumonia, the ...start 

is npw dated for next week in Bal- 
timbrie,, with . Cleveland to : fpliow, 
ShPW which has iha; Glaire topping 
:is due iritQ' the Milder, N. Y;,. Jan. 27. 

- Vera': Zorina, In "Lpuisiana Purr 
chase^', Ihiperial, Is bothered with i 
glandular irritatiph -under the ear, 
but appeared; James Dunn, pf 'Pan- 
ama Hattie,' ' 46th. "Street, has been' 

ttrpubied ~ With his -throat and • finds 
difficulty in playing. Doctor says a 
full Week's rest. Is -advisable. Dudley 
Cleineiits has been ouit of . 'The Man 
I Whp . .Came^.. Fbr. Dinner', with : the 
stage manager filling in. Colds in the 
cast of 'The Flying Gerardos' caused 
two previews to be. cancelled but the 
show opened Suriday (29). 

- Mozelle Britton lis out of 'Separate 
Rooms', Plymouth, with a nervous 
aifllictibn and brd^red to rest indefir. 
nilely. Edith Craig, who is the widow, 
of Ritchie Craig, replaccid; Miss Brlt- 
toh is the wife ; of . Alan Dinehart, 
featured in 'Rooms'. V 



TyroSe Power piugte 
Between His Ex-Mgr/s 
Suit and Countersuit 



Canary Flies 



Benny Holzman Joins 
Morris Agcy. on Coast 

Benjamin F. Holzriian. for years 
general manager for Eddie' Cantor, 
and prior to that' a top Broadway 
press agent, joins the William Mor- 

j ris office oh the Coast in a couple 
of weeks for general talent .agentiiTg. 
Report that he would head the Mor- 

■ rii? agency's i)iand department is un- 

|..founded.: . ' .; 

i Holzman, now in New Ybrk, 
; leaves for HpUy WPPd Friday (3 ) 
with :.his f arhilyi 
It's Holzman's first connection with 
agency. . Besides continuing as 
Cantor's rep, he'll also work on radip 
prpductipn;. ampng other things, - Abe 
Lastfpgel, who set the deal in Ne'w- 
Ypric, returns to Hplly wood In. six or 
seven weeks. ■; 



' - Los , Angeles,. Pec. 31. 
; Complicated, legal abtipn by Mrs; 
Gertrude B. Adams tied up the $60,- 
ObO estate in Cahoga Park- in Which 
Tyrone -PoWei'; . lived during his 
minority. , .Suit is -afterhYath of 
-another legal attion in which Fran- 
cis D.' Adams is suing Power for 
$230,000 as his former legai rep and 
business mahager. . ' 

Mrs. Adams, who recently di- 
vorced her husband, is seeking a 
clear title to the Canoga Park pr.pp- 
erty, - winch- she claims' . is hers un^ 
der the divorce, settlement and to 
which, she contends,. Power has ho 
valid, clairn.. 



'WHITE CLIFFS' POEM 
INTO A FILM SHORT 



.' Hollywood, Pec. 31. ■ 
Jeanette. MflcDonald resuines her 
concert . tour . Jah: 14 .. ' .• .M^ 
After a three-week vaca'tipn- at hpine; 

Second section pf the rpute; in- 
cludes . tw.p days in; Havana,' and 
winds lip in Ne\y Prleiahs, Feb. 16i- .. 



N; Y. to L. A, 

Jpseph Bernhard; ' • 
Hy,.D.aab. /■■■'■^ ' "•',' ■ : '- : ■ 
Walter jurmanhv ■ - 
Sidney. R. Kent. ^ : 
■ Oscar lievantr : '. , .-.'■/ . 
Richard Maheyr — — 
Anna Ne^gle;. . -'... ..[ '■ 
Rpsarib and Antbnip. 
William F. Rpdgers. • 



1. A. to N. y. 

Virginia Bruce. ' 
Merian C. Cooper. 
Regiriaild Denhaiji. .''. ' 
David Hempstead; . ' 
Bernard Hymam ' 
J'ack Lait.^ 
AI Lichtman. 
J.. Walter Ruben. .; 
Moroni- Olsen. 



. 'White Cliffs,' Alice . Puer Miller's 
long narrative English propaganda, 
poem,, was > purchased yesterday 
(Tuesday) for a fil in short. Buyer 
■was William Burnside, who is un- 
derstood- to represent the iprbducing 
unit headed by William Hawks 
which is winding, up at RKO aind 
shortly moves tp 20th-Fox. 

Published about two months ago 
in a small -volume which sells for $1^ 
'White, cuffs' has sold 45,000 copies, 
an . unprecedented , number for a 
poem in such a short time and one 
that has the publishing world 
amazed. It was also tWice read on 
the radio by Lynn Fontanne. Para- 
mount and other studios were con- 
sidering buying the poem for a short 
if they could Pbtairi. Miss Fpntannc's 
services tp play'in it. 

Hawks' partners include Rpiiald 
CPlman, Irene Dunne, Charles Bpyer, 
Anatole Litvak and LeWis Milestone. 
Cblman is English. and; it, is assumed 
he ^nd Miss Dunne will probably 
"take principal roles, 

Burnside is understood to have 
paid about $5,000 for screen rights; a 
heavy sum for a short. "There are a 
number of other angles to the con- 
tract, howevir, including one' that 
pernrii ts , Mrs.' Miller- to retrieve 
screen; rights if a feature deal is set. 



Hollywood, Dec, 31, ' 

Last day of the year, and I was faced .with a disagreeable task. 1 had 
to fire the maid ,beeause she . forgot to set the clpck and my mother was 
late .for Work. ' ''■-.-'. ;'■'.-""■ ''- .'; • 

- Bob Hope gave me a. very unusual Christmas gift, A picture of an 
Europeah dictator' wjth, his- mp^^ . , '■•'•-'. ■ 

Bought; 'mom' a 'double' Christmas prsesen't— and: a I'm sp soft- 

hearted. I got her a calf skih.; purse and a cowhide bag. I coiildnlt tiear 
to separate the calf, from its mOtlier.-;' •; • - . . ; , .,. 
. , Asked Franklyn Pangborn if he read ^y. colUmii. He Said, 'No, I'm wait- . 
ihg until i get a little stronger iV. (Just; for;, that ^-I .won't let him knit ah 
Afghan for me.) ■■•'. :": '■•; ' . • ■ \'.; ' ' ■ '-.■■ 

V Was at a party given by :a Well-known Hollywood actress who. wa.ip cele-; 
■brating., her ' silver wedding, ahhlversalry; ^he ' j'ust .marri^' her. 25th hus- 
band, '''y - ■■ ■' - v; \' ■ 

-* .Bing- Crpsby a|id I are gPing^ the Santa Anita racetrack one day be- 
f pre it opens. 'We want to see how it feels to be at the trrick anc) not los 
any money. . '■ •';••.: .■-' ' .. y-ir ' ■ ^ ' ■ 

.; Had SO; mai.»y; people over.; jtb; our house;; for a Christmas party that ; • 
had to.. inix.: cocktails in ti^^ . - ; .. . ; ' • . . ; - 

'■ 'V '-.'.': Broadway Dept, ' '.. 

■ Biggest norirmusical mbneyrmaktii' p.n Bi-oadway is '"Twilfth Nifjlit.' with 
Helieh- Hayes . a;nd Mauricei. .Evans. It,.:lP'oks like; Sh^akespeare wiis iinKirt in 
not writing any p Jays about '.Hb.Uywbpd..-- . 

Two herrings ph.s.sed Liridy's and one said to the other, 'Let's go in hera 
and' tear a silver fox.' , . ■ . 

. .George .AbbPtt's first . prpd 'Pal. Jpey/ 'which PM^ 

N.- Y. '.irewspaper, described 'as the. 'dirtiest sh'pw ;yet'.' If :U kct'pi. up,.. 
Harpl4!Miiisky will, hang'-a sign'pn his Gaiety bUribsiique ttieatre, 'Cleanest 
sl'iP.\y in. tbwn. ; Bring the 'Wife^^^a^^ -■ 

■■..■■■:.■' Ifollywoodiana ..'.'.' 

Walked ititp Maurice's jewelry stpi e. Pn -yine street and -heard; the cleric 
say tp a. gorgeous, blonde; 'Is ^bmeb.he taking care bf ybu?" ; ' You be.l,' >he : 
replied, 'one of the biggest; directors iri Holly wood.' ., 

Joe Frisco just bought hirh.self- a hp use. on a hillT^so that he' cbVil.d see 
the installmeht' colleetors.c.pming. ' •■ .. . O- 

A local ham is so ebnceited that when he; yfai arrested on , a bigamy 
charge, he insisted that they make, his rogues gallery pictures in Technl- 
cplbr. ■ ;• . ■' .: ' . ' ":'■, ■:■ • 

Mrs. Jimmy Ritz wanted a house . at Mlalibu Beach: fbr a. Chri.stmns pres- 
ent and jimmy cpmprbmised by buying her .a pail of sand for the back 
yard. •''■..'■ •-■.. '■'•- '. ■; ' 

'■]. Scoop: Crosby is building .a tunnel' undertreath Santa Anita so he can - 
get; his horses back to the stable after curfew. 

Went to. the preview of mypicture, "Tall, Dark and Handsome'. My • 
mother forgot herself and laughed at the screen credits. 

: Musio Dept. : 

People make so much noise In night clubs tonight (I^ew Year's Eve) 
that nobody will notice hoW the band sounds, even if they play BM I tunes. 

'Jeannie With the Light BtroWn Hair' is so old that a certain feminine 
radio star has been singing It through four hair dyes. 

A BMI songwriter was rpmancing his girl. He said, 'I've gpt a sPng in 
my heart* She said, 'if it's in y pur heart, it's public dpmaln.' 

, Badlo Dept. 

Heard a radio comedian; on the air last we.ek;^ho is definitely living ph 
borrowed jokes. ,•: 

Judging by the success bf the Jack Benny-Fred Allen feud, the only 
way to get'ahead oh ^'adib is to pick- another cbmedian. As sopn ns I giet 
a prPgi-am ril start writing ppispn pen letters tO Bpb Hppe. , 

Frcquehcy MpdUlatiPn is the hew big thing in radip, but when I wai 
on the air last year the sponsor thought that FM: meant 'Fire. Miliph'; 

; HeUiKnall . Descriptions 

Bing. CrOsby: Owner of the Stork Club.-. . Kaf e Smith; The girl with the 
figure ate. ..Biliy Gilbert.; .Little Siieez6r;....Hcjniv Youngman: After the 
Berle is oyer; . .Miirjro;; I'm going to sit right down and write myself a 
Lederer.. 

Observation Dept. - ■ 

Goodman Ace went to the opening of 'Pal Jpey' and he repbrts that the 
theatre was so crowded the pit musicians went up With the curttiin. 

At the preview of my picture, Zanuck was so thrilled that 1 don't know 
whether it , Was' because he liked itr^r, because he won a .set of iM.4ies. 
. Tlie i^asbn picture people marry so often is that they became accus-' 

■ tomed.tp retakes ■ - ; !. . .;" ■ '. - 
Eavesdrppped at Florentine Gardens: 'She's the life pf the ob.'iervntion 

ward.! ' 

. Eavesdropped at the Beachcomber; 'Is that her original face or is it a re- 
tread?', . 

Hitchhikers h^re are so: independent' that the other day one refused to 
get -into my car unless I permitted him to give nie a rpad lest, 
'Whatever Beeame of — h— 7 
Paisley Npph Lnraine & Ritz - 

Vadi & Gygi Dillpn & Parker 

Rome & Gaut Milb ?????? , 

•.; Afterpiece 

• Think of all- you've. got to be thankful for ' 1941— including the fact; 
that -ybu .are permitted to think. 





Fix In HoDywi 



v.l ■ 'St liOiUs, pec.'■3i^" ■ 
; Will .Osbbrn6.;Wh6..has be^^ maesr 
^^bin^ his bwn ' dance band f pr I2 
;cphsecutiye yearii will break up ;the 
-flombp Thursday (9) at the ;"dpi^cll'- 
..siqn of .his. .current- engagement at 
.;ihe Fox ;. theatre -irere . and trek <tp 
•Hollywopd to produce fuU- length 
musical talkers. The plcfiue {making 
bug bit Osborne five years; igo and 
recently ahjgeis in the East who. haVe. 
been;; interested - in Osborne's idea 
decided to unleash a huge. bankrOTl 
to put the idea, pyer. . ; .. 

These talkers will be built around 
prigirial. stories, that Csborhe. says 
he has been niullihg for .many years 
and expert scripters bn. the " West 
Const .will be brought in to do , the. 
actual Writing, What niuslqal talent 



that will be needed for the talkers 
will be engaged in Holly Wppd. Be- 
cause Osborne Say.s his idea is; a- he W 
one he has refused to divulge all of 
the . details pf- his .uh.deftaking'.but; 
wl.th Piily bccasipriai musicalvscreen; 
.Ibdder bein^ , produced he believes 
.that he has hit on ^n idea Xkat y)\\l 
fill ai defin ite • demand for such en-' 
.tertainrrtent., . 

., ■ Mbye'is iiriderwayltb .lea.se.a.Hblly- 
■ Wood studio for .making; the talkers 
I and. pne pf the major cbmpa'riies will 
be 'cbhtactBd fbr distributing the cel- 
Itilbld, Osborne will hot .' appear', in 
any. of- the .talkers but' will devote 
hisn&Mire- efforts :in. producing.; . 

So conndent is Osboriie that hVs 
hew idea will be a big click in a 
co.mmercial way . he is ditching his, 
j band biz. 



RKO's In a Le^al Spot On 

On Friday (3), RKO Radio p|,c- 
tures. Inc., . Will; seek permission .6f 
the N. Y. .federar court for a tem- 
porary In jiinctioh against Helen 
TW.elvetrees to prevent .the. actress 
from moving fpr ; trial of.- her action, 
on that date, in th.e- N. y. supreme 
court. The filrh company has been 
placed in a; jpeculiar position- because' 
the actress' vvon :.t6mporary Ihjuric.'- 
tiph. against the company's use 'of 
hei? name in . cohnectipn >ith , the 
film 'I'm Still . Al ;ve,' and' an inj'unc- 
tiph ; against its exhibition in N.. Y: 
State, unless RKO consented to trial 
by Jan. 3. , . ;- " - ; 

. Followihg the loss of this, motipn 
RKO transferred 'the .suit ' to the 
federal; court. Both courtis ;nb\y claim 
jurisdictiph.. .bamaijes pf $io,0,000 are 
.spught in the suit which charges the 
fllm pbrtrays theiifo p£ Miss'Twelve-: 
trees with that of hier fprmer hus- 
band,.' Jack .Woody, a , ftoUy w.pbd 
stunt man.- ;•' • .--•■•/ („■: , ;;. 



Princeton, N. J.. Jinx 
-Repeats for Ina Claire, 

; ■ " • Princetori,:;pec,;..31v.- ■ . 

That Jna . Claire-S. N. - Behrman 
jinx that crept intb'Pi'incetoh .eight 
year$, ago': and led to. a ; bb.xpffic.e 
staniipede fpr refunds again descehdr' 
ed on this cpllegiate town ' Satxirday 
night (28), When the Plny\v,right.s| 
prpductipn of , 'The.' Talley;" Method'- 
Was cancelled due to the :illnc.ss; of 
John Halliday, co-starred with Miss' 
Quire in this .h'ew Behrman comtcly. 
As far a.s this blase try-out town is 
cbncertied,: it's three'- sli'ikes iind out 
ferHhe ;Behrm«^»i-Claire.bomblnatioii. 

-They, haven't forg.btteh, yet that 
memorablb : Saturday night" eight 
years ago' when the Theatre Gilild 
launched at McCarter here live hi.ch- 
ly successful career 'bf ;Bi'iyi;:iphyv- 
But a'gppd many tilings (hat- weren t 
programmed turned up at lliiitvopcn- 
ihg ■ pgrf.brmance-T-th^ .scenciy. ;c;<nie 
.- ■ . ' (Cpntihued Pn page. 47) ^ ; \ 



Vedncsdnyt January V 1941 



HilSCEtliAKY S 











Between 'official protesls by Ger- 
'man and Italian embassies and/ al- 
legedly 'spontaneous' demonstratiorvs 
bV Nazi and Faiscist ; sympathizers 
scaring exhibs,. American distribS are 
fltiding : it: increasingly difficult to 

obtain playing t''^^ ^" ^*^" 
Ica ibr fllins with anti- Axis angles. 
Priiicipaliy a'ffected is Charles. Chap- 
lin's 'The Great , Dicta tor,' while also 
suffering are James Rboisevfelt's 

' 'Pastor Hill; 26ih-Fok's 'The Man I 
Married.' Paramount's 'The World 
in Flames' arid .Warner Bros.' reis- 

■'. siie of 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy.' 

• . Latest ban cartie .in Argentina last 
Friday (27) .against Vrhe~ Dictator,' 
following protests jriih the Italian. 

- Embassy. Argentine tpreigh 'office 
ia Biiteribs .Aires announced that 
Mayor Carlos. AlbeTto • Pueyrredqii 

" had inipos^d .. the nix after Italian 
ambassador .Raffaele Boscarelli . had 
prptested to. the fdreigri office that 
tKe picture 'attacked , the Italian 
regime.' Municipal film censoi: board 
previously had authorized the' C.hap- 
iin satire: while, cdnflrming an earlier 

. ban bn "^Nazi Spy./ - 

Meantime, in Mexico the Ministtry 
of Foreign Relations rejected ah o(: 

(Continued on page 47) 



Triple Jebpardy : 



Hollywood, Dec. 31. 
• One cop ph Sunset boulevard 
was . enough to censor la motion : 
picture in the old days; but now 
it takes three governments, • 

20thtiE'px is 'filming 'The Eagle 
- Flies 'A^^^ a . story .jof .;the 
^American volunteers in - the ' 
.libyal Air Fbrce, under techni-. 
cal' supervision of officials from 
the U. S., Canada and Grejit 
. Britain. ■..':■;•;• 







Jdhn F: Royal of WBC Meh-^ 
tioiied By ffaihe in. One 
A t tack — *Prof essionkl 
Spatoiards' JStir OW Affec- 
tions, Old Prejudices 



ALSO DECRY PiX 








And That's Terrif 



. Amusenrtent business was t^rrir 
, flc in Manhattan .ov^r tlie week- 
■end,' ',' 

So much io it was even impoS' : 
sible to- get curb - space ; -at -46th ~ 
street arid Broadway to view the 
Wilson ; whisky .animated sign. 




Lazaru^ Can't 
Off Col 's $30,000 That 
Was for H500 That Is 



■ Milton Lazarus, whose 'Every Man 
for Himself ! was recently purchased 
by Columbia tor $4,500, is burning at 
the Dramatists. Guild, which refused 
to relax its xegiilar . rules to permit 
him to accepti. an offer of $30,000 
from the same studio for. a piece of 
the show, and the film .rights- before 
the Broadway opi^nlng. Author has 

. been huddling on the matter- with 
. his attorney; H. William PiWlson. 

Under the Guild's minimum basic 
Bgreeriient with the Broadway .man 
agers, the, film rights to avlegit pliay 
may not.b€! sold aintii after three 
weeks' run on Broadway or 75 per- 
formances puf of towri. Rule also 
forbids the author or producer to 
negotiate for such a sale. However, 
Lazarus claimed to have a deal 
tentatively set with. Columbia at the 
$30,000 price, but the Guild declined 
to make an exception, so the pact 
chilled. After the play flopped at 
the Guild, N. V;, Lazalrus quickly 
accepteij Colutnbia's offer of $4,500, 
the only bid available. 

■ Show was tried put on the CoaSt 
prior to the Brpadwiay presentation, 
but was originally . tested several 

. seasons ago in the east, under the 
title 'Once Upon a Night.' Lazarus- 
was reported miffed at the Guild at 
that . time on the ground that the 
organization's restrictions on fiilm 
■ flnancirig were holding Up a pro- 
'. fessed desire by 'Wai'nei: iBroS. to 
back a- legit prbductipn of the .play. 



Ada? In . .the dailies . Monday.' (3()) 
for 'Johnny Belinda,' at the.^Long•; 
aerie, N. . Y., quoted drama reviews 
from nearly all' the^ iJ^ew Yotk'raidio 
stations covering; the Broadway the- 
atre, $0 far as kriown, it's the first 
tiriie a .legit rrtanagement has adver- 
tised the opinions of the radio critics 
in that manner.. Only missing one 
was JHoward Barnes, of WOR. Ad 
listed the quotes and stations, but 
not the nariies of the critics. 

Stations included were WNEW, 

WINS, whn; WBBC, waat. wmga, 

WEVD, WBNX and WHOM. 



Will Art 
For His Sbtter Firm 



flpllywooi Dec. "31. 
^^Rudy Vallee, is a double eritry in 
the -pirnciin-the-Slpt Handicap.- ;as 
4 filfti jactoi- and president of the 
Vis-o-graph . Corp. of America, 
which has established .quarters in 
the Hollywood quickie sector;: . 
■ Gertrude Niiesen has .b6en signed: 
to star in. four 16 mm. flliiis for the 
new company. ; 



K.O. $105,000 SLANDER 
SUIT VS. JIM TIMONY 

Hplly.wood, Dec. 31. . 

Slander, suit for $105,000 against 
James Timony, filed by Frank Wal^ 
lac6, who claims to be Mae -West's 
husband, was tossed out of Superior 
Court Monday (30 > with: ruling by 
the bench that Wallace is not resi- 
dent /of the county and had not 
posted the. bond required from non- 
residents. 

..Waliade clairried his. reputation 
was damaged by reriiarks of "Timony, 
who. is Miss West's business manager, 
that he Is a 'fraud,' sought to prove 
legality of their marriage. 

. ■ * ■ . , 

Attach Dietrich's $2,000 
Frpm Radio Sponsor 

Forrester-Parant Productions, Inc., 
which Is suing Marlene; Dieti-ich for 
$98,450 for alleged breach of con- 
tract; Attached a $2,000 check sup- 
posed tb go to the actress for a radio 
appearance pn Dec. 12. Attachment 
was. /made from Sealtest, ,: .Inc.;; the 
sponsprs, and: . McKee - & Albright, 
Inci,.the agency. ■'•::■•■ 
, .Plairitiff, a French rnpHpn picture 
producing company,^ clairiis the 
actress failed to .'go through with an. 
.agrei?riient: to\ make; a picture" iri^ 
Fiance for them.; Previously, ari; at- 
tachment was made -pn her N. Y. 
property.-through order of the N.. Y; 
supreme, cPurt, but. she had npthing, 
here to attach: 

' PINALE TO MANY SUITS 

jack Hays Accepts . Settlement On 
SKIricry Temple Claim 



]^y DOUGLAS L. QRAHAME 

^ Mexico -City;: Dec. 31 
Pro-Nazi ., and prorf ascist elements 
here haVe already displayed a grow- 
ing fury against; the, blandishriierits 
of Uncle Sami The nicer the United 
States treats aU the Latin .republics, 
the jTfior6 Mexicans arid Mother 
Spanishispeakirig P9bi>le tend to re-, 
turn the broad grins, the mpre inr' 
dignant the CSermans -and , Italiaris 
and their, agents, :; 'thie .'prpfessionaI 
Spaniards,' become; ~ 
■ Ra4io is playing a conspicuous part 
iri^ Pan-American' , harrhpny. With 
both big American netwijrks, NBC 
and CBS, showing interest "in Mexi- 
can radio and the possibility of a 
regular: CBS network in IMl, it is 
significant that a^ particularly violent 
blast (in Spanish) recently published 
here in 'Hispanidad' singled out ah 
American broadcaster, Jphn F. Royal 
of NBC, by name. . . 

As a sample of .the attacks upon 
Yankee mbtiyes put., out by pro- 
fessional Spaniards here some quo- 
tatibris from the 'Hispanidad' article 
are telltale. '. The publication is quite 
new, these remarks appearing under 
the caption 'South Arinerica defends 
itself againstv the. 'peace' invasion.' 
Mexican readers were told; 

'The so-called 'continental 
darity' • that, is hieing wPven 
(Coritinued on page 21) 



soli- 
with 



in N. Y. 

. • David Hempstead, who recently 
completed .'Kitty Foyle,' -his: initial 
P.roductiori assignment for RKO, ar- 
.med. in 'New York Saturday (28) 
from the iCoast. He'll . reniain east 
Vacationing until after this .film's 
.Preem at .the iRivoll, N. Y.,. in mid- 

V yatiuary. ■ ". 

^producer's next assignment Is an- 
.;Other Ginger Rogers starrei:, 'Tom, 

Dick and Harry/ 



OGvier-Leigh Sail For 
Native Eng. at Peak 
Of Holy wood Careers 





Departure of Laurence Olivier and 
Vivien Leigh ;f or England oh Satur 
day (28) has caused considerable 
Speculatipij ' jn the film industry 
British screen stars, who were mar- 
ried :on the Coast In August, were 
both at the. peak of their careers in 
this country and ther^ appeared tP 
be no tea^on for their unannounced 
takeoff.- ; . 

(iouple recently completed work m 
Alexander Korda's 'Lady Hariiilton.* 
British goyernmcnt; has repeatedly 
stated that Oliv.ier could be of rnore 
service in the United States than in 
tingland and^/eveh the unofficial 
(Coritinued on page 34). , 



■/ . Phiiadelphia, Dec. 31. 

Tiie best- boxpffice years pf actors 
and actresses' are those in' which 
they're in bloom— and the . bloorii 
liasts longer With the male than with: 
the female; according to Dr. Harvey 
G. Lehman, of, Ohio University. Dh 
Lehnian prppoiinded this thesis be 
fore thef ■ sa\^ants gathered here . oyer 
the weekend at the American Asso- 
elation^ for ..the. Advancement of Scl 
ehce at Convention Hall. 

Statistics reveal, said Dr. Lehman, 
that male performers have their best 
years between the ages of 30 and 34, 
while, women hit the. peak of their 
boxoffice popularity between 25 
and 29. 

'The age curve when success comes 
is five years earlier for the actress 
than for actors,' Dr, Lehman asserted.; 
■This finding implies that the profes- 
sional life-span of the actress is con- 
siderably ; briefer than Is' that of the 
actor.. : 

'Is . this difference due to the fact 
that women iend to age more rapidly 
than do men? Or is it due to the 
possibility that sorne of the actriesses 
may voluntarily, iabandbn their prbf 
fessiortal careers, to become wives 
and homernakers?' 
. Dr. Lehman declared the age curve 
for better actors falls, 'somewhat 
more rapidly than the Comriion or 
garden variety.'- ■ • 

As 'unusual exceptions' he cited 
the cases of Shirley Teriiple, who 
achieved stardom before she was 10, 
,and the late. Marie Dressier, who 
reached the peak of her fame when 
she was past 60. 



Philadelphia'; Dec.. 31; ; 
' Samuel Friedman, press agent f or ' 
the 'Sim.-Sala-Birn' - show,, yesterday :'. 
(Monday;^ swore ont a warrant for 
Dante; .the riiagiciari; charging the 
Danish sleigh t-bf-hand artist with 
socking hinl: in the jaw iri the lobby , 
of the Ritz-CarltPn. hotel here. FHed- 
man . said the :6ne-sided battle ■ hap** 
peried. on -Friday night . (2-7) : and ; 
staiirted when Dante accused the flaclc- 
of 'slighting' Moi-Yo Miller; leading;, 
femme iri the corripany. in his pub-- 
licity..: 

A-ccording to Friedman, Darite ac- 
costed him", in .the' Ritz Ipbby as he 
was. posting a. couple ot letters and 
said, 'Well, Friedrnan, I see yoju got 
youf notice' .(earlier, Friedman: had :, 
receivfid his two \yeeks' notice fi'om 
Roriibat . 'Van Reerrisdyke, cbfnpariy . . 
managei:.). .'Now I'm going tb -make 
sure you're, getting it', said Dante, 
and with this let loose with a right 
hook to Friedman's, .jaw, the . flack, 
said.' . .' ' : ■ 

■ 'I didnlt want to hit h'rii in returhV. 
said Friedniari, 'Dante is a: man close 
to .60'. Since, he was, socked, Fried- 
man said; he's been;Uhder the care of 
a physician. Friedman said the , al- 
leged . 'slighting- of Miss Miller 
started after a -kidding' remark he 
had made to her that he 'wouldn't 
get any more stories In the paper 
(Coritinued on page 46); 



JULM DUVIVIER SUED 
OVER KORDA FILM 




H61ly\vood, Dec. 31. 

lifulien Duvivier, Firench director, 
named with. Alexander Korda Films . 
in a breach of contract suit filed in 
L. A. . by Transcontinental Films. 
Suit alleges Duvivier signisd a con- 
tract to make two pictures in U; S. 
at $80,000 per film, plus a percentage 
of the profi.t, but instead took a deal 
With Korda. 

Action .asks Korda .and Duvivier 
be: restrained from, continuing their 
business relationship. 



ALL-NIGHT BROADCAST 
FOR BRITISH FUND 



Hollywood;. Dec. 31. 



WACKY COMPROMISE 

'W'ack?s Museum' Becomes 'Book by 
H. Allen Smith' 



; H. Alien Smith, N.- y;. World-Tele- 
grarii feature writer, -and Dpubleday- 
Dbran are .Struggling -for a title' to- a: 
book .SHi i th recen tly coriipleted -a nd 
which , D-D will .publish : in. the • 
sipring. It's, a hijriiorous yoluriip, 
abbiat the ■ .writer's experierices iri 
interviewing celebs.. 



Stan Shaw;, whose 'Milkman's Mat- 
inee' i.s a recorded sessibn six early-' 
mornings weekly ovier WNEW, New 
York, had an all-live show ItT a. m. 
Sunday (29): Occasion was a 
Bundles for Britain: benefit, with 
guests includirig names frpm orches- 
tra, nitery, vaude. legitv ; film and 
opera Circles parti.cipatirig. Many pf 
those who appeared had made no 
adyarice arrangchienis to do. so, but 
hurried ' to., the studio when, they 
heard the. pfop r$ni via the air. 



■ ■ Among-' .'the namie '' igiiests were 
'Fredrlc Marchi: Florence Eldredg'e, 
Arthur : Treacher,' Phyllis ; . Brooks, 
:Wynn Murray, Sonya StpkoWslci, Lu- 
cille Manners. Jan,e Pickens;; -Bea 
.Wain, Hazel Scott. Jp.sephinc Ari- 
. tpine. Ella Fitzgerald, JOan Edwards; 
I'.i^ommy Dbrsey. Raympnd Paige,. Brll 



His original idea was to label it [RobinsPri! Count Basic, Gieriri Milleri 
'Wack's Muiscum,' but the publish- - (jharlie; BarnCt and his. orchestra, 
ers balked for :fear those riientipned , Andy Ipna/ Sam.my Kaye; Rags Rig- 
in it might object to being'sp cate- |:iafid; and. Beriny, Leonard 
gorjzBd. ;Dbzen; or so other titles:-'a number of Iroprpriiptu.i jam sesr- 
were devi-sed, norte; of . Which satis- :| sloris . by bands corriposed of - name 
fied all .the .parties, . Firialiy, in ex- pleaders arid musicians' 
.Smith :.suggested ^'Let's. 



After .three ;unsuccessfui: attempts g^^l°[l'^opk by H. Allen. Smiths :, 



in •court trials to recover damages 
ftom the parents bf Shirley Temple, 
on Glaiins. he coached and .groomed 
the moppet for picture stardom. 
J^ck. Hays: on Monday (.30 ) accepted 
a 'Satisfactory ; settlehient' and the 
suit dismissed; • 

Terrtis. of, payoff nPt. disclosed. 
Hiys .claimed Shirley's parents re- 



And 
title. 



that: 



Frankie Bailey lU 

, ■ : , Hollywood, Dec. 3i;- 
Frankie Bailey, -early ; stage favorr 
ite, billed, 'the Girl .with ,$1,000,000 



pudlated a- contract with him - arid;! tegs;' is seriously ;;in iri Los Angeles: 
turned her over to 20th-Fox. . i She is 81, 



\Vill probably be the 20th tO Filltl Cphan'S 

*Song and Dance Man ■ 

. : HpUywood, .bee. 3L 
George-M. Cohan's old Broadway 
play. 'SPng arid Dance Man,' hai been- 
handed oyer tP;: Don Ettlirige^ an?l ^ 
Edwjn Blum io be turned into a ! 
screenplay for 20th-Fox. 
Producer Is Harry Joe Brown. 




' Trade Mark' Reclatel-ed 
POUNDBD BT 8IME SII^VERHAN 
riibllahed WMklr bjr VAKIETT. Inc. 

Sid flllvflrman. Prtaldent 
1E4 West 46th Street, New Y6i:k, N. t. 



SUn.SCRIPTION 




Annual. ..... ,:.tl9 Forelcii 


...... Il l 


Slngla .Coplea. , . ... . . .,>••'•• 


.'2S Cent* 




No. 4 


Vol.. 141 odg^P* 


Hnppy .NMv Yenr y 






Bills 


..... 40 


■'Chatter. . .. 


. . . ... 47 


Exploitation ...... . .: . . . 


. .... 8 


Filhrj Rev ievys ; ; ...... 


.....14 


House Reviews . . ... . . . 


. . . , 38. 


InsLdeT^Legit . , . . ; . . 


. 43 


Inside^MUsic .'. . ; . . . 


.-.'./, 33 


' Iriside-^Pictures- V . . . . . 


. .... 18 


Iriside— lladib . 


..''....'..: 23 


: Inteirrialiprial NeiX^S ,. , , 


.....12 


. Legitimate ; Vi . /.-;.,;.\:. . 


.... 41 


:Musie.- >'.i...i.:..;. 


... , .,.'31 


. N.ew ■; Acts •■; . . . . ; ... . . .-. 


.....36 


Night Clubs i ; . . . . , 


. . . . . 35. 


.. Night Club ileviews . 


36 


. b-bituary :. . > y ; 


..... 46 


.. Pictures . ^ ; . . ....... .- . -.. 


4 


'.Ra;dip .?. . . . . . . , . . V ;., . . 


19- 


: Radio Iriternattonal . 


..... 21 


. Radio Markets , .rr-; . 


...... .30 


Radio RcvieWs ... i . . . 


29 


Unit . Reviews ■; i. ;.'. . t.. 


.. . . . . 36 


; : y aude vil le ' . ". :; ; /,'; 


....'.•< 35 



VAKIRTV radio ..OIRKCtOKT 

(I'uUIIshe<i In N . annually) 
■ 'IS per copy 



. . OAII.V VARIBT.¥ 

(Pulill.Mlied lii Hollywditd by 
v. X>ally Variety. Ltd.) 
tlO a year— 1121. fiinelRn 



A PICTURES 



WedjAeeday, January 1, 1911 




: C. J. .fPat^Scollard, Svilh P^r for 
.t\ii'0 years .iri; yarious capacitifejs,. at 
jpresent . in (tharge,; pf advertising 
budgetirifir Jjecomes ex«cutlye;.assist7 
fint to Neil. F. -AgneAy' J^^^ 6.- He 
■was for years as'spciated with - Joseph 
P, ■ Kenne.dy' in the.' Old TBO: and.| 
Pathe (idmpanies. . |."<. . j 

jacli '.Banriari, 'tor ] 

Astor .. Pictiif(e,s,, : independent V dis-. 

tributing compiany headed by Bob 
Savihi, is. also joining Parambunt in 
a. distributipn capacity, as. yet unde-- 
fined next Monday " (6).. .With .Astoi: 
for a year,. Barinan. Was" formerly 
With Sarh Dembowi. Jr.v -in -Paria.-. 
mount, later- in National Screen ;ahd 
subsequently with Fanchon & Marco 
In New York. Dembow himself re- 
turned to the Par fold last spring. : 
. Recently set fo^ a post in thei dis- 
tribution departnieht' at th.e Par .h-p.;, 
jpe Philipspn assumes his ne'w duties 
Jan. 7. HP will bp attached to a 
epeciial .department .that, is .being crer 
ated at Par headciUarters in line with 
the cphsept . decree., Ph)lipson will 
be second ; in cPmrhand. of the ^der 
partment, it; is .understood,' ,!wi|h 
Bonnieone else, hpt yet chosen, to head 
it undpr^Neii F. Agriew, v.p. pver,-ail 
Bales. , it may be that Scollard, as 
an. assistant to. Agnew<.,wiir be its 
active head. ■. ; 

Foi: many years Philipson has 
been in, charge, of film buying and 
Bccoiihting for thp J. Hi Cooper cir^ 
€:Uit> oper.atinjj in thP midwest; 



Gabks in ^Itihiore 



'. Baltimore,' .bfec:. 31,. ' . 
. Glark G able/ .Carole Lombard and 
■Howard . . Stricitlin.g, Metro ' . studio 
publicity chief, 'arrived here Moh.day 
(30). for jheckup: al .Johns- Hopkins 
hospitar under care .of , Dr. v Louis; 
Hamrtiori, ...celebrat«!d diagnostician. 
Gable's ailing shoulder will bei given 
a once over; It's d^*, tp. take .three 
dPys..- .'■ 

The Gable party will fly baxik ito 
the Cdast to go into vproduction 

Jah..'5,-~''. ! ■ 



PUGURISM SUIT ON 
METRO'S 'MURDER MAN' 



Carrying Oh 



. . Hollywood, Dec.. SI.. : 
Old . familiar nime if • Chanpy 
reappears on a dressing-room 
dppr ihiieulyer City after a lapse 
■ Of years; • 

Lon Chaney, Jr.i is iJlaying In 
•Billy the Kitd' at Metro, where 
his father was a star. .' . . 









JOHN HARRIS 




.Stephen Van Gliick. and Joseph 
Eisinger have filPd suit in N. V.. fed- 
eral court against Metro, Lpew.'is, Inc., 
Culver Export Co., Edward E. Cohen, 
Guy Bolton, and Tim Whplan,. seek- 
ing an injunction, accounting, of 
profltsi and damages fot.the alleged 
. piracy of their play, known under 
three title.s, '96 Point,* 'Jane Brady, 
Editor,' and 'The Last Edition,'' in 
Metro's ; 'Murder Man.' Plaintiffs 
allege that their, play; was written 
prior to May, 1933, and submitted to. 
Metro in 1934. 

It is claimed that it was. submitted 
as an. idea for a play iot the film 
company to back, or for a picture. 
After rejection, the Metro picture 
was made. Cohen is brought in as a 

. defendant since he claims to bp en- 
titled tp 5% of thP play. Bolton and 
Whelah are the authors of the Metro 

.scenario On which 'Muirder Man' was 
based. 



ADD: B. O. WOES 

Kids Under 17, Sans Parents; Tabn 
After 9 P.M. In East St. Loo 



St. Louis, Dec, 31. 
A dozen exhibs ih East St. Loitis, 
pop." ;84,000,. arfi moaning long and 
loudly.; ovpt. the passagie here of 
a CurfPw Ordinance whicS ! bans 
Kids under 17 froin- the streets after 
» p.Tjl. with a result that b.o, takes, 
ihone too robust- in : recent months, 
are taking another licking. The new 

■■ ukase forbids ypungiteirs,: unless ac-. 
companied by a. parent pf guardian, 
frbriri .iruhmng an errand, returning- 

' Iroili - chui-chi. theatre of .a- af- 
fair. Hizzoner John 'Connors., In-! 
dicated the drdi.nance/was de.sigried 
:tp make someone Tesppnsible for all 
kills out on the streets aher dark. 

The teeth in the ordinance fix a 
line of $1 to $10 fpr a child, and a 
fine. Pf $5 tp.,$25 for a parent 'cpri-- 
niving at the delinquency.'- .The ex- 
hibs report that before adPption pf 
the ordinance they received a good 
play from the ypung 'tins . vi/ho 
caught the last shipw, some •with the 
Idea pf beating an .earljir-to-bed 
parental' order. ; 



Ford Vke KbWeri 

Hipliy wood, Dec. 31. > 
- 'Glenn Ford took over the top mal(i 
ipot in Columbia's 'Tpxas' as a tP- 
.placenrient for William Holdeh, who 
has been removed, from the payfoil 
pending ^ettlcmpnt of a salary argti- 
pierit,. 

Filming starts next week .with- 
Stuart Heisler directing ahd \ Slam 
BischPfl producing^ 



; 'Pittsburgh^Dec. 81. .'. 
jphn H. Harris^ .head", of theatre 
circuit bearing hi% name and.; - 
ticinal president of the' Variety.ClubSi . 
is - uridierstood: to . havp- ' bieen /ap- 
proached again by city GOP; lead.ers; 
to. become a candidate for the 
mayoralty on RPpublicah : ticket at 
primaries next sjDring. Harris, who 
is 42, was mehtipned' four years agp 
as a possibility, biit decided, at " last 
minute against making a. race of it.. 

.[Hiarris. family has' long been, in- 
volved in city, county and state poli- 
tics; Founder of the chiain, John P. 
Harrisi father of "John H., was a 
Pennsyiv'ahia state senator for years 
and sp \yas aii unclp, Frank J. Har- 
ris, > who. is presently cPurity GOP 
chairman and .was one of the of igir : 
hal 'Willkie. bopsters in this state. 

Harrisy in addition to -his. theatri- 
cal 'interests; operates Gardens, 
sports arena h6re,' and is the owner- 
of the Pittisbufgh . Hornets hockey 
team. While he insists show busi- 
ness and not politics is his game and 
says hp basn't even given the maiyor- 
alty any cOnsidefation, . it's: well 
known- that party leaders are anx- 
ious to have him consfder it. He's 
married to the former Liicillp Wil- 
liams, pne-time screen . actress, and 
they have Pne son, 4. 



/Kfergef •• of Monpgfam with PrP- 
ducers.Reiieasing Corp- is foreseeh as 
result Pf steps reciehtly . taken by . 
both companies. Latest was the 
election last Week; .Pf O: Henry 
Briggs^ as prcz of PBC. - Briggs. is . a 
iitieinber .Pf the Mono hoard. He has 
also lohg been' associated 'with varL"' 
oiis Paithe enterprises and is a for- 
mer head of Pathe Laboratories and 
Pathe Film Corp., which, owns an 
ihtefest in Mono. ..r ......... 

■ There haVp been reports . during 
the past six ihoniths of liionb .giving 
uji productiPn : and It is undef stood 
the hew setup may envisage PRC 
units doing all tbe film'making and' 
Mpnp liiniting itself to distribution 
of their product. Onfe of TRC's pro- 
ducers, Sig Npufpld,; is undefstodd 
Slated for :top studio sjpPt; • Other 
produPers ate Jed Buell, Ted Rich- 
mond and E.B,Dcrr and it is said 
that, negptiationsr.^re in progress ; for ' 
additiiin pf morp producers. ... / v 

Brigigs* electiph . followed the 
resignation several- .weeks /ago - of 
president. Ilarfy Rathner and fPr- 
financing- of PRC. ^ .Enough capital 
has been pbtainpd; It is reported, to 
make the 21 .' pictures refnainitig: of 
the 38 promised for the. year. , 
-Indicatioiis of a, change in Mpiip's 
status is the. resignation during the 
past few wpeks of "Thomas -P^ Loach 
as v.p.;. arid treasurer and of Edward 
A. Golden,: salesmanagef. Loach - is 
formpr y.p. and treasurer of Pathe 
Filrn Corp, and Pathp. Labs and -was 
repping.' Pathe interests at j/Iono. ... 



Hostefry Proprietors 
NoIikePix'HoterTags 



Films with -the word 'hotel* iri 
the. tjtle. Which have given hostelry 
operators a. headache , in the past, 
are again providing a call for an 
aspirin. Exec cPmmittee of th6 In- 
ternational Geneva Association, com- 
posed of . hptel owriers throughout 
the world, spnt protest letters on the 
subject to Hollywood studios and 
distributors last weeki 

: Grievance which occasioned thfe 
latest 'protest was adyeftisirig for the 
French film,. .'Hotel .du. Nord^'- no'w 
at the Little Carnegie, N. V; . BPni- 
faces speciflcally ponipiaihed aboiit 
advertising outside- of N; Y. City 
reading 'Wh(fn in New YPirk,' doii't 
fail to visit 'Hotel du Nord:'* Ap- 
parPntly a number of ; visitors have 
Goriie.into town and- searched for the 
hostelry, IGA claims to, have iPt- 
ters frpni' ou t-of rto wners ' wh o have 
been inconvenienced by tfyirig to 
find a hotel that didii't Sexist.'. 

Same type of . advertising, hotel- 
njen squawk, has 'been, done in the. 
past on 'Grand Hotel,' 'Hotel Im- 
perial' and . 'HoUywppd Hotel.' 'They 
want it stopped, , " : 



M%%ed OH 

Sound Stage to Mabel Normand 



Mbtf s Bitttle-Neckd 



• : V, Hollywood, l)ec.; 31;; : 
6yer.crowdihg oif ' KKO's diiibbuitg:. 
departmPnt caused Hirold^^^^L^ 
set back ihe. pre view, o|'^A, Girl/ k 
Guy andVV Gob,' :fpr three wieeks. ' . 
.: Biggest Jam of: features' in 'sevieEar 
years is rpsppnsiblp' for the delay lii 
the dubbing trafflo. 









RKO and Loew Both Now: 
Want'Niglii^T^^ 



Following the. opening of 'Night 
Tfairi' at the Globe, N. Y;, .Saturday. 
(28), both RKO and Loew's arp: 
fighting to get the picture, whereas 
previously 20-Fox - had. offered it to 
RKO and latter refused ^tp give it 
more than two days on the circuit. 

Interesting developrrient is lhat 
LoeW's came along, offering 20th the 
chpiPe five days, whereupon RKO, in 
turn, also bid for five. As.fesult, the 
filrn, which had been in a lower 
bracket, has now moved it up to the 
highest allocation group. Elsewhere 
it is being delivered at Ipwer pef-^ 
centage or flat figures where con- 
- tracts had been taken. '• 

'Night . Train* is a British-made. 
The Brandt Bros, bought it first riiri 
for the Globe some time ago and de- 
cided td" give it one of; the biggest 
campaigns any picture has. gotten; for 
the house. , A total of $5,000 was 
spent oh ads for the first week a nd. 
idyahce. It -will do around: $14,O0O' 
the first. Week,. It is estimated... . 
: Brandts iarp planning .to . 'spei^ 
considerably more, through a . cain- 
. paign alpng cOntfpversial . lihes tliat 
will include ijallotirig by ihe, public 
dri '.wh.isthfer'or not :it' is.. better tlian 
'Graphs -of Wrath;* voted as' the top 
/picture of . th^ yeir: by- the.- N. Y. 
Filih, Critics eirclp. / Angle, is to 
challenge 'Grapes,*. :UndcrstoPd that 
a iew pf the critics picked it as pne 
of thp .best 10 . of the year, biit not 
enough, votes, were Pbt^in'able to; 
get it includ^di ; Brandts . obtained 
pernaissipn of 20th-F6x. on the .thai-- 
Iprige carripaign since IGxfipes' is also 
a 20th film. . "y 







.British cr^!dit ba[nk plan,..iC... J ''l;!;, :; ;. . ;;. iC;^.. . iPage 12 

Hpyts-Gf eatpr Union, jmerger off, V;, .... '..... . . v ... > . Page .12 v 

liicrease rentals :in :A\issie?. ..:.....;;,; iuC/; ;v., , . . . . . .Pag^ 12 

■More Gerrtian plx in Nprwaiy.'^ .;; . ;', ,;:Pagp 12 

J^^r, 20th push :pctl6n pik iii S. A. . . . . . , . , . . . .!..'. i. Page 12-: 

{^iscsll en route;;,. .. J. v;;..; A..Page 12 ! 

ASCAP ■ . . .-. t . ... .;.;... «■» , .'. ; . ;..,;......,. ;.. . ; . ; ', .,Page 1ft - 

Radio Reviews: '.The CitadPl,' Conrad Nsgel, Olivier-Leigh; . ; .F'age zisi 
BMt's Cpast. composers i '. ; . . ;. . .".'; .7. . . ; . . ... . ...... , . .'. .Page .31 

Metro may make music plugging shorts. . . . . . . . .; . . , ■,■ . , , . , . .Page .31'. 

AG'VA-Eqiiity njerger snags. ... . , ; . . . .v. , i ,/ ; .-Page 35 



The . motion picture IhduStfy , is 
likely; to be the particular target of 
legislators 'when 48, Btisrtes;;ineet Ih 
legislative lessipn . this. year. 'V^ith 
a majprity of the states ho;y having 
about . every .known : method of 
taxation already in force, the. state 
spions. undoiibledly . Will bfe' scouring 
the field . to ^uncoy^r soine ' new; 
scheine fpf supplying .the necessary 
increased state operating .exppnsps. . 

All excepting one :state' start their 
sessions this, month, Florida iPgisla- 
tors not convening until . April 4! 
All . are regular biennial meetings 
excepting Georgia wliich has a sper- 
cial session . set for jaii. 13 With4he 
regular state sPssioq decided then.. 
This contrasts 'With pnly eight regu- 
i.af legisliative meetings last year plus 
spepial sessions In California,. Illinois, 
LpUisiana,; : Missouri; Nebraska - and, 
Pennsylvania. 

Greatiest task- cohfrohting' .-state 
soions, even .when .^10 special money- 
raising, problems are present, wilt be 
to balance- their budgets in ordpr 'to. 
handle old age pensions. . With the 
Federal government stipul'atlhg that 
states' must, lay put a certPin .amount 
to rhatch the money provided by it, 
various Ipgislatures must dig up new 
sources, of fevPnue.:' Film biisihess' 
has been the fall guy in the pas't 
and likely Will be picked on agsiin.. 

Most V states ■ already have^ sales 
ta^ces and. can't allPrd to :boost them. 
Many have chain store taxatipn 
(some even Ihdluding' the picture, 
..business) and gasoline sales taxes., 
Cpnsequently any c o n s i d e r a; b le 
amount of additional fundi -must 
coriie from a new source,- with the 
film industry seen as a possibly fa^; 
voired.gbat, despite thp. fact that- ex- 
hibitors already are hard hit by the 
tax. oh admissions down to 2ic while 
distributors are socked 'via thp ex- 
cess profits tax; (supposed to cover ' 
defense preparedness firms), and in- 
creased income taxes. 

N, T. Okay However. . 

Biggest fear from the legislatures 
is that . a state admission taxation 
will . be established. One cheering, 
npte in this regard is that N. Y. istatP,. 
.with, the .'igreatest riurriber of theatres, : 
.will : hPt be forced into any ^ such 
tax on cinema dUcats! Reason! is 
that Tacetrack pari-mutuels brought 
in ;m6re -than exppgtpd . the . first year , 
and that ; not ^tbo much difficulty is 
likely to bp encountered in ■balahp'^ 
ing .the budget.. ' . - - • • i^':'-' 

...-'dne of the -few cities havirig a stifE 
tax on admissions. ls_ New . Orleahs.. 
-TJip law provided a 2% levy Ph all 
adult adfniissipns,- with .the statiite 
,apparently running . out yesterday, 
Dec.: 31. Formerly , this city tax tyaS 
only on tickets of lip and upwards. 
A. hopeful . sign- in the. state^ Pf 
Lp.uisiaria - is thait the .hew goyerhpr . 
has ' reppajed ; the 1 % sales tax which., 
frees the film business 6f the obliga-. 
tlon ' of payihi? this oh ' film rentali 
andvadmissiohs. ' .; , 

Majority of the state legislatures : 
fun for 60; days, although many have 
no stipulatiprt as to, the length of 
their session: ; The state, splphs 
slated to Start 'work by,.Jah,';6 are 
California,;. Colpradp, CpnnebiicUt; 
Delaware, Idaho, Illinois^ Indiana, 
Maine, Maryland*— 'Ma£sachusette, 
Michigan, l^innesota, Missouri, Mon- 
tana, Nebraska, ; . New , Harppshlre; 
New York, North C?aroli-na, North 
DakPta, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsyl- 
vania, Rhode Island, South .Dakota, 
Tennessee arid. Vermont, ' 



' . : ; ,Hblly woPd,"%ec. 81/ : . 
.Silent ghosts fliPkered above a sppi 
in VSiari Fernando 'VallPy; wprtdering. 
what all the talk was. abPut, Noth., 
ing likp that had ever happeiiPd when 
Mack Senhett. wais prpduclrig mute 
plpturps and Mabel Normand was h is 
voiceless star. It 'was Republic S.tu- 
dips' how, and Sehhett,, y/ith a touch 
ojt ripstalgia in his tones, was .rnaking 
a. speech, dedicating a soiihd sbjge to 
phe :he had palled 'the girl with .the 
golden, heart;* 

. Ghosts of tfie Keystone Kops 
swooped down from - their eternal 
cKase iri Elysian - Fields to. gl impsa 
the legend on the 'plaque: ~ 

'We . dedicate this, stage to the 
mempry of a Ipyable iBrti,st, Mabel 
Normand. . .Maiy .'vye: never forget her 
—a great- soul who ■ pioneered and 
gave purpose to the early motion pic. 
tqre. Through this hew art she 
brought laughter and beauty, other- 
wise, denied, millions burdened With 
despair and drabness.' 
• The sppoks may have wondered at 
the changes that have come over the 
.fllni' .art since they flatwhepled 
through Hollywood streets and up 
into the forests of Griffith Priik: A 
coyvboy Vvaa a; strong,' silent man ;in, 
thosp days, who spoke otvly with his 
trusty six-gun, . That was before he, 
broke, put with a- crppij and a- guitar 
arid a flair ifor riipdefnistic u.iiiforriis. 

Gathefed around with their feet on 
the grPund werp pals of the depart- 
ed spooks, solemnly taking part in 
the ceremonies. . Chiafley Murray^ 
Jack Mulhall, Noah Beefy. Chester 
Conklin, . Charliey Ray, Eddie Grib- 
bon, : Jimmy . Finlayson; R'nymond 
Hatton, Walter McGfail and Eddie 
Quillan listened with mi.sty eyes to 
the memories eypked by the master 
of - cerempniesi William Farnurn. 

From put of the front offices cinia 
Y. Frank Ffeeriian, Willinm Beau- 
dirie, J. : Stuart Blackton, Harry Joe 
Brown, '.A. Edward Sutherland, JPlin 
Auer, Jed Buell. Roy Del Ruih;,J..R, 
Grainger, John. Waldrbn, Ei-le Ken- 
ton;. Frank McDonald,; Joseph Santley 
and Louise Fazenda, who was there' 
iri" a double role as the wife of Hal B. 
Wallis and a former Mack Spnnett 
coinpdierine. \ 

' Pulling the stringis- to unveiKthe 
plaque was' Judy Canova, slated to 
appear shortly In one of the early 
Normand roles, 'Sis Hopkins.'. 



Running a Shoestring 
Into a Fibn Career 



Hbllywopd, Dec. 31., : 
Alan Mowbray ■ arid Donald-' Mc- 
Bride signed, an actirig' deal , with 
iRKO, calling for four pictures a year 
to keep up the series which .stafted 
with 'Curtain Call' arid is continuing 
.with 'Show Business,' now in produc* 
tion. 

Third of the series, is In prepara- 
tion, with Mowbray and. McBride 
teamed as a pair of shoestring prp- 
ducers. 



Underwood's Successor 
At 20th StUl Uncertain 

.,: Interview? ■ with pfPSpective ■ 
cessors to Frariklyn : Underwood as. 
eastern story editor of 20th-Fox are. 
being held by Joseph H. , Moskb- 
witz. New York fep for the Studio.. 
Moskb,witz emphasized Monday '30) 
.that no- sele.ctioh for the .post ha»; 
bPen;made and that he . may fake up; 
to.;a , couple of mp.iiths, of ; longer, to, 
get. thP rri.an .he wants; - ; ; -. ' 

Underwood; died about .; 10 . dayt 
ago; . : Robert Basslef, f of mpr ; . as-^ 
sistant to Underwood, who's now asv 
sistant to Coast .story editor .Juliah; 
JohnsoriV. haS beiSn mentioned ;for Ihe 
New York job : as-.'hais been . Bert 
Bloc, who last served as story eo 
for Samuel Goldwyn. 

Twilight* for Rj»kin 

; ;' •' ■ • Hollywood. Dec. 31. 

Everett Risitin draws the prpdpc- 
tibn chore on^ Columbia's recently 
•purchased: story, 'Mr. TwiliRht.' 
; Sidney Harmon "wrote, the yarn- 
It has a U. ;S., Supreme qourt baCk- 
ground. . ' --^ ■■] ' :' 

SHE'li. DAEE TO 

'Hollywood; Dec. 31. - 
Femme lead : opposite- ; George 
Brent in Columbia's "They Dare NOi 
Love' goes to Martha Scott. 

Sam Bischoff production, gets un- 
der way Jan. 3.. with James Wt).w' 
as pilot. 

\ir : ... 



Wednesday, Jannary 1, 1941 



PICTUHES 5 









U 






Atlas 'Corp. (Floyd 'B. Odium) ac-" 
tively ■ entejred the : thesifre end . of 
RKO's opierailpns this week through 
the purbhase of part. of. M. ,J.,>Iee-: 
ban's - Keith^Aibefei-Orplieum pr^r 
ferred stocki. Understood that aromid 
12 000 sharies were Included In the 
original block,, with . sale, price re- 
puted to be : approidpiately $l,60p,0QD. 
Atlas> deal provides lor an option 

' oh the ' remainder,., some; 14,000. or 
16 Odb KAO preferred shares being 
subject to terms of a voting trust 
whereby tepresentatives of Meehian 
will ex^rtise voting rl|hts lor: an 
^tended period of Aiitie if the op- 
tion is not. exercised. Reported that 
the total amount Involved ,fpr: the. 
ileehatt' shares will be lesS -thari $3,- 

• .800,000 or about what SKO at one 
time offered, to get the shares Into 
the : company- treasury. \, : , 

RKQ, had beea, seeking the Mee- 
bah' shares for more than six months, 

. It being part of the .cbnteniplated 
corporate^ slmpliflcatlon. plan out- 

. lined by the patent cprporation 
nearly a yeair ago. . fiowever, pro- 

' Vosed; deal for- 29,000 Meehah. .pre- 
ferred ishares and a. plan to retire 
about $4,500,000 w.brth of B. F. Keith 
bonds' was passed up by a .rfecent 
ineetlrig of TIKO' directors; 
; RkO '■■ has . ' sought . the . Mjeehan 
ihai-es because .It would represent a 
saving: of ' at least . $98,000 nnnualiy. 

" Retirement of the. Keith: bohdi afso 

: \iras proposed because. Vroducitig an 

. annual interest . Saving of around 
$135,000 per. year; Galling in of 
these bonds also would help simplify 
the corporate setup.^ . 

' Already In o^ BKO 
Atlas always has held a substan- 

. tial. interest, in RKO' arid nominal 
liidirect interest In the theatre' end 
of the bUslhess, 'With its purchase 
of KAO shares^-, the! Odium group 

' apparently. . is deflnitely rcommittirig 
Itself to the theatre ppeirating .branch 
of RKO's setup, admittedly the inpst 
profitable ehd of film business, today. 
Shift of the KAO preferred stock to 
Atlas does not rteah aniy . saving, to 
RKO since Odiiim's company Is a 
holding cprpPration with nO; cohr 
hectlori ■ with RKO excepting stock 
holdings in the picture cpmpany. 
What , it docs do is strengthen .the 
Inyeslment portfolio of Atlas; the 
KAO shares admittedly being a yal 
uable inyestm6nt. Presently $15.75 is 
due in back dividends Ph thiis pret- 

. er^nce stock with the prospect of 
extra divVy distributions, likely each 
year besides the $7 in regular an- 
nual dividends. 

KAO has cleared up about $14 in 
dlvvy arrears during the last four 

■ years, paying $11.75 in, extra divi- 
dends during that period. Company 
paid $8.75 In 1940, $8.75 in 1939; $10 
In 1938 and $12.25 in 1937. There 
still is due $15.75 in arrearages on 
KAO preferred, representing slight- 
ly more thah'-two years of regular 
dividends. , 



Beet Board Memfcerf^^ 



l*ar'»; Own Ckmp 



Hollywood, Dec. 31. 
■Paramount is building Its own. 
army .camp near Sherwood, For- 
rest; for thf Buddy de Sylva piQ- . 
ductiori,: 'Caught. In '.the ...Draft,', 
based oh the natiortal defense 
.campaign. Private Jjuilding-; is 
."neciessary .because the ;.GfoVern-.- 
rheht .encampmenti are. so' biisy 
that they have hp room for filmi- ; 
Ing pictures, 

. David Butler, directo):, signals 
the - start . Jan. 6, with.j Dorothy 
Laihour: and Bob. Hope in .th'e tbp. 
rolesi' 








RUSH IN '41 



jHpllywoo 

Production slowed .down a bit but 
maintained' its momentum diiring 
holiday week with only a slight hesi- 
tation. .Work naturally halted on 
Christmas day, with 24 hours fpr re- 
cuperation, biit two pictures rolled 
on Friday iand another on Saturday 
at„Warners. The, two were '30 Days 
Hath September' 'and 'Winged 'Vic-; 
tory/ and the weekend starter was 
'Miss Wheelwright Discpvers Amerlr 
ca.' Twp more, . 'Tiic Bride Came 
C.p.D.' and 'Sergeant York,' get the 
gun this first working, day., of the 
New Year, and 'Affectionately Yours': 
goes before the -lenses next week. 

.Universal, has thriec films scheduled 
to lead off- during the secon.d week Pf 
January and may add a fourth. Three 
designatied for the w.eek of Jan. 6 are 
The Lady from Cheyenne,' 'Model 
Wife' and 'The Man Who Loist Him- 
self.' . Possible, added .starter ;is the 
Marlene Dietrich starrer, 'The Flame 
of New Orleans.' ' . . 

Monogram i.s soaring to n^w pro- 
ductions high with the delivery of 12 
featureki five 'Range Buster' .westerns 
and two Tex Ritter horse : dramas. 
The finished product constitutes 45% 
of. the' studio's trbgra'm for 19'40-4U '. 



O'BRIEN SIGNS FOR 
FIVE YEARS WITH COL 



- . • . H6ilyw'obd,:Dec..:31,'; 
; Academy . of Motion :Pictut^^ 
and Sciences, elected .12 board miem- 
; bers in. four of its branches, actors, 
■writers, . directors: and i)roducer3; 
Fifth branch; technicians, : reciuires a 
new election, because of a tie vote. • 
; New members are Edward ArnoW 
■ Rosalind Russell and jarnes.' Stewart., 
for the ; actor'sj Howard- Estabrook, 
.i Jahe " Murlin and Robert Riskin, 
: . ■writers;. IFi'ank- Capra, Frank Lloyd 
• and Sam . Wood; director^;: Y. Frank 
; Preeman, Daivid 0. -Selznick and 
Walter. Wanger, ;producers. ' . 

Oscar for sciehtiflc; technical 
: achieverrieht wUl be awarded., again 
this year by 'the Academy of. Motion 
Picture Arts arid Sciences. Nomiha- 
tlPns. in that class have .been . re-: 
.flUcsted by Darryl .F. Canuck,' chhir-, 
man of the Research Council. ' : ' 
■ ■ .Entries .'co'yer alt' devices, methods; 
fp.rmulas and ; discQVcrios .Or invch- 
■tlons. of .outstrihc'iti.t! value which 
were actii.-.lly c"--''-.! od during 1940 
in the 'film . industry. ' ■ • • 



Hollywood, Dec; 31, 
Pat O'Brien closed a five-year deal 
with Columbia for a 'rninimuni of 
two' pictures annually, with .provi- 
sions for more, if mutuailly agree- 
able. Cbntract goes into effect 

jah. :2.\' v'Vv ■ 

For years' under contract to . War- 
heis^ .O'Erien recently finished his 
iirst freelaince picture, 'Escape ,.:t6 
Glprla^i' for Columbia. ■ 




CutUng P i c t u r e Prograims 
>yin Be the (i^n^rM Policy 
of Each Coihpany^ HKO 
Prez Opines —w; Extehdied 
:Piaying, Time In<e.viiable 



BLOCKS-0F^5 SN A<G COIN 



No. product shortage In 1941-42 is 
envisioned by RKQ' J>rei' George J. 
Schaefer, despite 'a .slash, in niimber 
of fllnrts ' as : a resiJlt of the consent 
decree. ' ProbaiDility, .Schaefer pre- 
dicted, . will be that .^xhibs assign. 
films longer playirig tirfte to compen- 
sate, for the' diminution in .numbers. 

Increased, playing timel 'prPvlding 
greater fllrii rental : for Individual 
pictures, is Viewied by Schaefer as a 
healthy development. . He jehdered 
the opinion recently In, .'.revealing 
that RKO- will cut 40 .pictures next 
season from the 45-48 slated for the 
current year; 

. Although other companies have 
given hp Outward indication yet of 
an Intfeiition to reduce, theii* quantity 
of pTbduct, they are expected to fbU 
low the RKO suit. Two reasons for 
the cut were assigned by the .RKO. 
topper , and are genei-ally applicable.. 
One is. the fact that fiye-picture 
blocks which must be sold under the 
consent decree tib up coin because 
completed films are held on the 
shelf and bring in no revenue while 
waiting for 'the four, other pictures 
in. the group to be /finished. Second 
reason for the slide, Schaefer said, is 
that there are how .'top -many, little 
pictures' and Pperation^ will be more 
■profitable 'with .fewer' and ■ better, 
films. 

Flexlbliiiy in Blocks 

Schaefer predicted that np switch- 
ing of individual pictures from one 
group of five to another by exhibs 
will be permitted, as it would cause 
too many complications. Only spots 
which aren't open a full week or 
where other unusu.al. conditions pre- 
vail will be. able; to buy fewer than 
five, pictures at a time,, he said; . 

'As to a query oh whether pictures 
in a biocfc must be played in a piar- 
ticular order, Schaefer replied no. 
Same, flexibility, of . booking as now 
exists will continue, he explained, 
governed, only by usUal rules of 
clearance and availability. 
. fixhibs' in later runs, RKO chief- 
tain, said, will be able to buy twP 
or three groups of pictures at a time, 
although this will be Impossible in 
early: runs, where films are played 
ais they come off the production line. 
Iri the suBsequents, where an exhib 
has a couple of months' wait be- 
fore getting product; he'll be, able tp 
■ see several blocks before it becomes 
necessary ior him to. -buy any.. . 




Cutting Cripditli 



. ■ '-. ■ ; Hbllywdbd, Deci 31. : '. 
Production 'credits. - '- ' the ' 
screen are in- f<ic\a drastic wlilt^ 
tlihg .in 1941 at Metro and pr<5b- ' 
able, at other major studios... Idea 
'is that the .public i§ ihterested 
chiefly in the players and Is 
bored.b'y a long list pf technical 
.and production aides. \ . 

One complicatiori halting an 
immediate, reduction of names Is , 
the numbeir .of. cpntracts which .. 
call for, screen credit. ■ 



01EARY W 





: J. J, G'Leary, general auditor of 
tbe Corherford Circuit for many 
yearsi has been pilaped in complete 
charge of operations with headquar- 
ters at Scranton, Pa.; and reported 
that >vhile there has;, been' , some 
consideration- to bringinjg Someone. in 
to run the theatres nothing is likely 
to be done. 

As & result of his appointment tp 
the cabinet as Postmaster - General, 
Frank C. Walker is no longer able 
to devote so much of his time to the 
.Comerford circuit, of which he Is 
president and general counsel. .He 
retains these posts, however. ''Walker 
is a nephew of the late Mike Comer- 
ford. ',: . '■ . . . 
: At New York headquarters, of 
Comerford, whore 'Walker always 
made his. office,..Johh Nolan is ,in 
charge. He docs all the buying for 
the circuit. .,Although Paramount is 
ihterested. in the Comerford theatres, 
numbering ' around .85; complete op- 
.erating: authprity . lies with the 
Comerford people. 



RADIO, PIX REGULATE 
BENEFITS ON COAST 







on 




1 



12,428 Fin Vtorkers*!^ 
Average |l|9(f^f 

: .:'.' Holly wood,. Dec. 3i..; 

• SttidlP workers,' e'x.cluiive Pf. execs 
aiid • talent,, ' drew. , down >557,957.. in I 
Npvember, ■ rcprcscnling' an . $8,636 \ 
increase Pver pi-civibus month.'. Wcek-^ 
ly -paycheck to ;i2,428' Av'orkcrs aver- 
aged $44.90 as ' .announced : by, Cali'^ . 
f brniai Labor Stntl.stics' - Department,- 

• Employment .gain ■l.T'l'n over No-, 
vember . '39 ih • salaries', but showed; 
numericaH'o.s.'i of 2.3':?. Studio WPrk- 
ers averascd $1.29'. per. hpur during . 
the month,' . ' . ' 



.^Hollyw'Pod, -Dee 31;- 
deDrge ;J. Schaefer, ■ presidentj^. of 
RKO,- is due: in town Jan. ;;i5. fDr;a' 
one-year stay, probably to take oyer, 
the ehbres now performed by . Harry 
Edinglpn .al the Gowcr street; sl-udio; 
Edingtph, it ; ls i-epoVied,. may ;iea'yc 
the Ipt when Scliaefbr arrives; ;. 
..,^PrpblG!ri cdnfronli.ng Sci^aefcr is. to; 
rearrange, the ' 'produclion .setups 
bringing into .tho. foid new producers, 
some .of whoHfiiwin .Wprk on the fcom- 
pany payroll, and some. jndepeliden.t- 
ly. New policy i.s to let the slafl prpT 
ducchs stand or fall on the merits' of 
their own piclure."', .\vi!h 'Schaefer a."! 
a consultant ..executive Whenever, 
necessary. ■ ■ ' 



HpUy wood, Dec. 3L 
Regulation, and direction of charity 
endeavors undertaken .by the two 
branches of show bu.sine.ss, pictures 
and radio, .hereafter . will- clear 
through' a single agency to avoid 
duplication ■ arid conflict. CoUabora- 
tjoh was effected last wxck through 
organization of a radio, committee ;io; 
functiP;! - with a. film grpui).. . .Ap- 
pdihtees.'of Harry Wilt,., prez.' of. 
Southern Galiforhia ; Ilroadca'!;ters' 
Ass'n; v/ere Don. GiJmah, NBG; Don- 
ald Thbrnburgh, .CBS: ..Lcwi.s Allen 
Weiss, . Don Lee-Mutuali ,Marry;-Maiz-; 
lish, KFWB> and Calvin Smith, 

KFAG.i- ■ '.;/:V-: '; •■ ■■■.: •.'■■ V^! . 

.yM a recbht meeting- .belwceii ra-.. 
dip ;arid film, leaders, it was indicated 
that, .such a. group becbmes ^a nec-.. 
essity tO'.;reBulate:. benefits arid', curb 
such duplicates '35 two British brPad.-, 
casts from Hbllywood a; week apartV 
Both .Sam -Goldwyn ; and'' G'ilman. 
chlded." the .two. gfoup.s: si)on>brih 
.the. British programii: for. not. getting 
together '.oh .one ■massiye broadcast 
instead 'of 'splitting, them; up/. with. 
the .performers and rictVv^orks fPrdPa 
ihtd'dbuble duty. . ' ' 



-Joseph Berhhard,',Rcrici-,ni irinnaisor 
of the Wiirtjer circuit,. .trairicd Mon- 
•day , (30) for-Mho -^Cbrist, ;■ ' , ,■ 

' . , He , \vi)l' coiifc >c;th ■.Harry -.'and 
Jack' Warner, on . {scnonil'. ma',' . 

■. pertrinihg to produotion and -ihc 

i theatres. • 



. The British; frozen cPin a'g:reement , 
for eight U.; S. 'major con^panies w 
approved and flnalized last Friday ;- 
(27) by both ithe Ainerican filni cbni- 
panies. and th^ gdyerhment .bf jGreat 
Britain,.: Anho.uncem.entrpf ; ;basic iea-. 
turei: Including, the fnaxiinum tPtal, 
$12,900:000, which Amei-ipan distrib- 
utors may receive in the year started 
la'st Nov. l; and percentages accord- 
ing to compahiiss; was itiade at the 
Hays HOf flee directors' meeting that - 
day. • .■■' ' ■ . ' , 

. . Talk by J'biseph I. Breen,; produc- 
tion . code chief . of the ..Motion Pic-. . 
ture Producers & Distributors, Assn., 
beforfe the directorate was tlie other 
ImpPrtarit feature of' the session. He 
urged the top officials present to exr 
ert pressure . on their ' production 
chiefs on the .Coast in maintaining 
clean product. The board of direc- 
tors pledged Breen 100% support, in- 
formally explaining that they wPuld 
dp all they coiild to .see that pro- 
ducers cooperated in jieepirig pic- 
tures clean. .Breen -and Will Hays, 
several weeks ago, went over the isit- 
uatiori on the .Coast; with producers 
then expressing .willingness to watch 
their step. , ' 

Undei*stood that spme executives' 
present • admitted that certain pror ; 
ducers, in their urge to turn out 
surefire boxofflce films or what they 
considered such. In . recent months 
perhaps had gone a little too far. It 
was pointed out that protests about 
dirt in screen productions, and .fresh 
censorial troubles \yere caused by ' 
this slopping over pn the yerivtp get 
in dotible-meanihg gags or qiiestibn- 
able lines. Breen apparently wanted 
company heads to know the situation 
fully and to get an expression of 
opinion.: Apparently In the. future 
attempts to crowd in, objectionable 
material will not be handled with 
gloves; rather, it will be a • case of . 
elimination before .shooting begin? or 
trimming after the picture is com-; 
pleted. ;. 

How Split Up 

The British frozen coin pact, which 
permits the ma jors to rem it . $1 2,900,- 

000 . in profits frbm: the British Isles 
in • the period named, will enable 
these companies to obtain the bulk of 
$4,837,500, which Is 37>/2% of the 
total allowed out in the first 13 
weeks. Agreement allows another 
37%% ($4,837,500 ) out bf Great Brit- 
ain in the .second 13 week.s, and the 
remaining 25%, or $3,225,000, in the 
last .six months of the period ending 
next Oct. 31. 

AHof thi.s isdn an 'if-earned' basis^ 
because, neither the Brrtlsh nor the 
film corhpanies know how business 
will hold up in the next feW months.. 

The ■allpcatipn.agreemcn.t; which ia; 
entirely, .separate from the excharige'. 
pact . with the British,^ lias yet to be 
signed .arid probably won't be for .: 
some' weeks; ■ iThls CQvcrs the method, 
whereby the frozen coin total.is to bo 
^lit up ahiorig tbe :eight :Gpmp'a'nlc.s. 
'The ■:'if-icdrncd*^. i)hase'.^^^^^ 
pact makes this • a ;cpmplex..rhaltcr, 
dotibly So because mahy .companjes 
Waiit to include advariqe sales, really 
deals, etc.; in the amount tiie'y should 

■ receive.; '[ '-V. : ''' • '. ^. 

ynderstpod'so 'ifar -that -if in any of 
•the three specified period.s': one com-, 
pany. lags' below its as.signed perccnt- 
:age. in, carning.s' ari.d another distiib'- : 
Utor gbes .abb ye its' porceritage, .there..- 
will '.bp .an .acljiisthicnt in favor bf the 
latter. wh(; "the money 'i,s actually 
split. Thtis if Cbluiribia' .should/fall. 
\)cl'fv.'. its P9rc.cntn£;c. ficjure in the 
['first' 13f v.'crk.s.jvnd:Metro .should .shfiw 
! bu.sihe.s'.s ahead .:'of its allotted ,pcr- 
|:cotilagc.; £iri •adjii-'lriient w-ouUl be' 
. mncle... .'^imihr. rcnlir{.nme:')t wb.iild be . 
.fo\lf).\vcd U'itlvall eight •major.si.'W 

■ matter, of allbfating the coin received 

■ in eveh pcri'ici i': ."rti complicalcid that 
-cornpariy sinli";ir;-"' , .-irc -Tunruhg 

. aroiind . iii. circles trying. tP fathom. 

1 the flgures. 



« PICTURES 



January 1, I9il 






To Tour Exchanges for Purpose 





A pro'ceduf e thaV.is expected to be 
followed, bj' the, four other coirir 
panics .Which; will sell 1941^42 fllih 
under; the consent decree starting 
this sumitier ■■ being teed off by 
ZOthrFox, with three of its attorneys 
: starting oh a . t.pur. of all the 26th ex- 
changes Jan! 2,~ - They are Felix Jen- 
kins, Nofnaan Steinberg- and Percy. 
Heleger, all attached to the legal 
departiticht: at the . h'drtie pffiide. Be-^ 
fore they are finished- with their- 
eouhtrjtwidV' toUrs; the other distrib- 
utors ainong the. Big Fiye^ 
ably., assign . men to .siinilar tiipS; . ■ • 

20th's. -three. • counselors, ■■ail..-.weli, 
vfersed -. ^ -;,the Consent ■^decre.eii' 'J^^^ 
split the country up between th*m. 
Jenkins, . a top-ranking lawyer in 
20th and secretary of the company, 
will take the west, while 'Steinberg, 
will .^byet the midwest and...:sotith, 
Heleger the east^ The length Of time 
thiey will bfe gone will depend on the 
meetings, themselves and the traVel- 
. ing. ; ■ ■ 

. . Legal trio . from 20th is going; cut- 
to preside at huddles with the sales 
Btafls in, tiie fvaridus exchanges to 
explain the decree in: detail, clear up 
any doubts concerning, it; and to in- 
struct the nieti what they must do 
as well as what they must, not .do. 
This is . the first material step to be 
taken by 20th under the consent, but 
later on, probably around Feb. 1, a 
meeting of distribution heads will be 

. held in San Francisco to further, dis- 
cuss the new system of seliing :for 
the coming season. 

At. that meeting, also,, it is ex- 
pected, .production plans for the 
1941-42 semester will be determined 
as well as discussion given to what 
the producing problems are going to 
be. S. R. - Kent' Is planning to go 
out . to preside, ; with. . Joseph M. 
Schenck, Darryl Zanuck and others 
coming from the studio. 

Other companies under the con- 
sent (Paramount, Metro,: Warner 
Bros, and litKO), in addition to legal 
aid . and advice to their c^xchanges, 
are expected to hold general distri-. 
bution meetings on the new sellini;, 
. arbitration, etc. Par is figuring oh a 
^neeting at : Chicago later in Janu- 
ary* Others are indefinite at the 
moment, but Metro, which held one 
session , already .. in Chicago, will 
probably hold another in New. York. 
Similar meetings on exploitation and 
how' such, departments will fit into 
the hew scheme of things are also 
looked for. Metro, is holding one at 
W. Y. in two or three weeks oh that 
alone, calling in all its nien from 
the field. 



NOW METRO'S 50-50 ON 
XONE' IRKSm AlitED 



■ ■■ ' : Minneapolis, Dec.: 31, \ 
Northwest Allied is; ; ' the : wair- 
path ; agaih-^this . time against,Metro 
bepause it is demandirtg..a 5D%!. split 
in' the .Twin • CiVles. for', subsequent 
runs- Ot 'Gone : With the ^ W But; 
despite its Jeaiderg' protests, thje cpm- 
Vahy continues adanilant in its ieiTrts. 

' There was a hullaibalpb. When BKO 
demanded .^a .50% ■ splits .for- "SnpW 
White' and eVentualiy the company 
compromised to 40% up to a split 
flgi}re in the case of Twin City inde- 
pendents. -However,- M-G has been 
the toughest of all cprhipahies f or the 
Minneapolis and St. Paul;- indies to 
handle an^ neVer backis up in the 
.face pf . pleas or threatSi :- r ■ 
For years, Twin City Independents; 
halve been fighting in -vain to get M-G 
to eliminate percentage f.rpih . its Mih- 
neapplis and ..St. Paul Iridie deals! 
There have been threats of virtual 
boycbtt, but the company always . ih- 
sists upon foiir percentage pictures 
in. its cbnti-acts . and. in the end, the 
exhibitors yield. All other companies 
here make flat deals ;\yith the Twin 
■City boys. - " .■ ' ~ r' 



• Hollywood; Dec; 31.; ^ 
Metro -signed Peter Ballbuschy spe- 
cial effects director. ; ; 

Pai-arhoiinl. picked Up' Margaret 
Hayes' player :option.'.. .' • . 

Elyse Knox inked - deal with 

RKO, -. -v:: .^- : 

ParamPunt tPfe up Verpnica Lake's 
old contract and handed 'her « ' new 

,pnei. . .'■ '•' : ' : :•.. 

■ Warniers hoisted its player :biptiOh 
on Frank Wilcox.. 

Betty Brewer handled a new player 
pact by Paramount. .'. 
. ftichard A;. Rowland pickj^d yp pp^ 
tions . pn ripsemary' De 
Mary-.Ahdersbn.;- ; . \:,-\:r • 











fo De-Code the 





uenessan 




ASCAP CASE MAY AGAIN 

VlPAR 



MRS. RAY WHEELER 
WINS DIVORCE IN PITT 



. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31. 
Mrs. Mabel Wheeler's Xmas jjres- 
•nt last week was a ■ divorce from 
her husband, Ray Wheeler, ; veteran 
theatrie manager, here, now in charge 
■of the State downtown, whom She 
charged with cruer and . /barbarous 
treatm.ent, ; 'If the fpod I Cooked 
did , not satisfy him/ she , told,. the 
cbiirt, *he threw it at me.' . 

Gal, i24, arid 18. years yoUnger than 
her husbanS. said she underwent a 
setipus operation recently and .when 
she viras . taken home - was placed in. 
a wh^l chair. .Wheeler -Was ;to put. 
her to. -bed ^ at night, she addedy One 
nighti he didn/t cbme: home at all 
and she had tp spend' the night in 
the Chair;. - The , Wheelers . were mar- 
ried, in New York Aug. 6, ji937, and 
' separated ;la;5t . summer. . • 



StQRY BUYS 

. ' . . -Hoily wopd,' Dec. 3L . 
RKO '.purchased 'That Was No 
_Lady,?,: by Richard Cb.llins. 

' Arnaud D'Usseau sold "'Repent at 
LeisureV to RKO.- : : : ; . .: ;; 

- Harry :iShermah: bought "ITie Sheik 
of Buffalo !Butte,': Hopalong Cas- 
sidy yarn by .Bernard McConville. ■ 

' Metrp understbpd'to be interested: 
in. 'Mrs. Fahe Come? of Age' by- Lib-, 
bie Block, differences between bid 
aiid.:,^sked price now 'standing be- 
tween cprisii'mmation of ai deal, 
Story is a ISwo-part serial currently 
in Good Housekeeping: mag. Price 
demanded is $2tf,bp0, with Metro in- 
terested iii paying considerably less. 



Pdsen Loses III Move 
To Haft U/s Plan For 
Buying Pfd. Tenders 

A complete denial of ii plea by 
Samuel I. Posen, director of Uni- 
versal -Pictures Co. since . March 15, 
1938,. and holder of 100 shares of 
common and 50 of first preferred, for 
a temporary, injunction against , the 
purchase by. Uhiversal pf . tender^ for 
its first preferred stock, in pursuance 
of an offer made.by letter pn Dec 12 
and -effective. Monday (30), was isr 
sued Mpnd'ay (30) by N. Y. supreme 
court Justice Morris Eden. The colirt : 
ruled that .plaintiff's suit in brief 
'seeks to ; enjoin, the- proposed pur- 
chase .by the defendant of its pre- 
ferred stock', and it was found that 
:Whil€. a meritpriPus Cause of action 
existed , which might prevail on the; 
trial of the action, insufficient evi- 
dence had been presented to the 
court to' warrant the drastic issuance 
of a temporary injunclibn. : 

■ Pbseh filed suit agairtst'Uriiversal 
on Monday. (30) supplementing a 
stockholder action he has against the 
company.. The dii-ectpr remarks in 
his action that Universal . has 15,300 
shares of first preferred at a par of 
$100,. 20,000 of second' preferred at 
a par of $100, and 250,000 of common 
.with a par of $1.: issued and out- 
standing. He states that the com- 
pany declares its net profit to be 
$2,400,000 tor the year ended Nov.^ 
2, 1940, and for the four years lipder 
the present management reports, a 
profit of $4i;725,. Thi.s i,ast figure 
does not reveal the coirrect; situation,: 
declares Poseri, who points out that 
$l,-560;()00 is tied up in England With 
no possibility of securing the money 
until .aftet the war. "This would 
mean, a loss; -of '. $i',5l4,274. ovei- the 
four-year period, and a -total in the 
red of over $6,50p,000..- • 

It is alleged-- that, any- shares pf : firist' 
p^ef^rred retired- j(i ^exc^ss of $100 ! 
par , would result.: in the Unlawful 
payment of- diyidehds to some stpck- 
hpldprs; in . preference to Others. It 
is, alleged that .tp; bprrdw $1,000,000 
n'pw to. retire the stock wPiild only' 
retire- about half of .it, and that 
stockholders hot protec'ted 
agiaihst disoriminatiph : by. the , plah.- 
Lastly;;it is claimed, that under Ujii- 
yersal's .'present financial status tb 
bprrpw an atdditioria] $1 ^00,000 for 
suCh retirenaent is - fdlly- • ■ 



Tampa, ;pec..':31;:' ■ 
' Warner. irPs,' effort- tb . break the 
deadlock . oh ' its : p.rodiict held by the 
Sparks' theatire ;chaiih in Florida' 
igained: a cbupl(? ;Of strides Ghristrnas 
day with the opening of. two. h^W- 
indie houses in Tampa and Orlando.' 
The - Sta.te, .biiilt and operated by 
Butler E. (Sore, who. has fought the 
Sparks! outfit in Tarfipa fbt several 
years, r^orts gOpd business With 
'Kriute Rochnft-AJi Arii'ericah.' ■ It's; 
the first. Warner Bros, picture to be. 
shown in. "rampa in two years, be- 
cause of the Sparks tiff. 
- John . M. . Goldsmith, Warner rep- 
resentative f rpm ;.. NeW. York : and 
Burbahk, Cal., , attended the?: open-- 
ing of the - Vogue; Orlando, built by. 
Gus C. Diamond, former WB sales- 
man. It seats '800. • ' 

Gpldsmith said Warners .is making 
gopd progress in the all-state cru- 
sade. Working with lEUilph :McCoy, 
pf Atlanta, district , manager, he has 
signed contracts with Arthur .J. 
SiegeU who \yill open a 90p-seater 
in Jacksonville in April; and has a 
dieal stewing With Herb Copelan, 
who is planning a theatre in Fort' 
MyierS. 'Wometco Theatres, with .13, 
houses .in the Miami area, is S.ho^y- 
ing Warner inims and; there also are. 
deals . under way in. Daytona and 
West Palm Beach-. The" Playhouse 
in . St.' Petersburg, operated by Bob. 
Bpardriian, gives WB another outlet 
in this section. 

Sparks, which i.s 50% Paramount- 
bw.n€d,..refu.' d. to sigh with WB in 
1939 and held Put all this year. A 
few indies have made half-hearted 
attempts to' buck the chain; but this 
is the first concerted drive to put 
in- a; big wedge. . » 

ANOTHER H^G ON 
Cfll'S NEW CENSORSHIP 



^ MUWauke'e, DeC^ 
Athbugh the!fr^quenty-deayed La- 
CrpSsp .Theatres Co.'s $1,476,900 a 
trusi suit against Paramount and 
various other distribs Was Scheduled 
to go onVtrial next^Monday. (6)^ 
Judge iPatrick T;; Stone and a mixed 
Jiiry at; Madispn, Wis.,- another post-! 
ponemerit>is now sought' by; !Rpbert 
A.. Hess, legal rep for' the plaintiff, 
for he .also is .the.;Wiscphsih attorney 
fpr the American :SPciety pf Com- 
posers, Authors and Publishers— and 
U. S. Atty. Gen. Robert H. Jackson 
has ordered criminal proceedings 
against ASCAP and Broadcast MusiC< 
Inc., . under: ' the Shermari .'anti-trdst 
law, started' in .Milwaukee's Federal 
;CoUrt on thie same date; ';. . 

. Trial of the L.aCro.'iSie-Pkr bWt^.le 
had barely . started .' When Attprne^^^ 
Hess suffered ii sudden collapse, diie 
to exhaustion and .overwork, on Nbv. 
'6. Physicians ordered- "a complete 
rest, and ; on KoVv 26. . attorneys and 
court conferred and set the resump- 
tion of the trial- fpr- riext Monday, 
Judge Stone telling- Hess^ to forget 
all else, in the::mearttime. • 



Phifiy Arbitrators 
Have Their First Job 
All Cut Out (or Them 



TITLE GHANOES 

V ; : . . ; ■ Holly wpod; Dec. : 31.- ■ 
: 'Adani: llad !Fbur SOns' is release 
title for ■ Leigacy' at' Columbia. ; 

Universal switched from: '^^orthe^h 
Lights' to 'Mutiny iri the Arctic.'- 

'Rookie's Roost* became . 'You'll 
Never . Get Rich' at: Republic; .: 
. Producers Corp. changed ftom 'It 
Happened tp Me'- to "Caught iri the 
Act'- ■■ 



. Chicago, Dec. 31. 
Third hearing ori . the proposed 
shift in. the city's censorship ordi- 
nance is scheduled for some time 
next hiprith. Opposition to: the 
changCi which would place censbring 
in the hands of special !Brpup named 
by the mayor ; instead of the police, 
has developed! at the previous' hearr 
.ings.~'' •' ,. . 

: Earl B. Dickersbn, city alderman, 
is -bacjcing the proposed censorship 
shift, which wpiild - prevent patrons 
under 21 years of age frorix yi^p^ying 
certain ifilnis.. iridu-stry! spokesmen 
claim this nieans ' censoring . of all 
pictures^ With thie- distributor; footing 
Kthe . iricreaijed fee-per-reel bill." "fhey 
also contend it will cut into the; ex- 
hibitor's patrbri?ge..> . ■ ■■ : ^ 

Boothitian Badly Burnt 
In^^^Oa Theatk Fii^ 

. "St. Lp'uis,;Dec;'.3i;.- ' 
'Ch\ib* Railstbri, jjrojec'tionist Iri; the 
Elm, 250-seater in iSt. Elmp,. Ill,, near; 
here, suffi^red severe burns on thie 
face an^ hands last weetk When the 
film, caught fire. . A rtiild panic fpl- 
loWed the llamiBs and the patrons 
rushed out of the house; . "The blaze, 
which damaged: the - theatre" $7<ppo. 
Spread .to -an adjoining caite, Itavern 
and recreation hall and. fire equips, 
ment was; summoned- from Alta- 
mdiint; Effingham and Vandalia, HI., 
to extinguish the flames ' Which 
threatened the entire business; dis-. 
trict. . . ■ ; ■-- : 
;: Paul firands ; is ; the . owner, arid 
pperator of the hpiise; , He plans tb 
Jeppen". a^ spon as ppsilble. 



. Philadelphia; Dec, 31. . 
• The first hunk pf biz on the 
agenda for the arbitration board iri 
this area, under the consent . decree, 
appeared in the offing ' with the 
skedded opening of the Erlariger as 
as fllriier in the dowritowri area early 
in 1941. .;' 

The Srlanger, built .as , a legit 
house in the lush '20s, has been 
leased by- William Golidman, iridie 
exhib. Last week Goldman's attor- 
ney, C. Brewster Rhpaids, sent letters 
to all exchange rinan^gers and to of- 
ficials of the Stanley-Warjier circuit 
warning that Goldman Would take 
'appropriate measures' if S^W would 
attempt to place its Center in a pre- 
ferred spot; over the Erlanger in the 
matter of clearance, as has been re- 
ported.. .- . ■ 

The Center, nearest S-W house to 
the Erlanger, is four blocks aWay 
and has b^en. showing films, fifth 
and sixth run, and even later. Gbld- 
man has made .it plain that be will 
bid for first run product at the Er- 
langer, the first attempt by an indie 
to break the first; run stranglehold 
held in this area by • thie Warner 
chain. ; 

Meanwhile the Erlanger has been 
let for its first play of the Season/ 
'First Step to Heaven* bpening to- 
night (TUes.). Only other, attrac- 
tion at thi.s house this year has been 
the anriual offering of the University 
of Pennsylvania's Mask and Wig 
Club. ■-, - . :■ 



FLYNNLKES MIDWEST, 
NIXES M-G SPOT IN N.Y. 



Jack Flynri, ; nlid Western district 
manager ; for .Mietro, . is reported to 
have been offered 'ian important dis-. 
tribuliori post at the home "office but 
has declined. 

He is said tp have refused pririci- 
pally because he. ^prefers to live jn 
£)etrpit or in Chi.cagb, Wher^;he npW 
makes headquarters. -' ''./ >. '■ 



A study pf the consent decree with 
respect to arbitration has ; piroybked 
much doubt cpncefriing the rights to 
"arbitrate in the mirids of exhibitors 
as; well as men :;iri the - Selling end 
because It isn*t clear just! What the' 
restrictions are. . .An. attorney, not 
in show -busineiss but rating high . In 
the legal profession,, went over the 
draft of the arbitration rules witti 
a Variety representative and cori- 
fesised : that the wprdirig Was any- 
thing but clear, ' virtually, requlrlnf 
.- Philadelphia lawyer to straighten 

it. out.* ■ ;■■ - .'. ... ' 

.The lack ;pf clarity concerning tht 
rights of exhibitors to arbitrate may 
still, leave marijr; operators, buyeni 
and managers 'completely . in the 
dark, everi after consulting their own 
attorneys. In, any iEv.ent. a legal in- 
terpretation wfilV. have tb be had 
before certain very impbrtarif : por- 
tions of the consent are underStood.- 
': While the proyisipris for. selling In 
'blocks of five' and other features of 
the decree do nbt. require derCodirig„ 
many very likely would be stumped 
by arbitration rules :as to how many 
theatres an exhib may have before, 
being ■ ' positibri to file a com^ 
plaint, notably under Clause X. This 
clause pertains to controversies arisr 
ing upon a complaint by an inde- 
pendent exhibitor ,thai a -distributor 
has.-'arbitrarily refused to license its 
features ■ for exhibition pri; the run 
reguiested'.' ' '; 

Questions 

Thi.<! in itself is riot, clear to persons 
in the trade who. have been con- 
tacted, but more recondite' Is the 
question; of whether an exhib cart 
come in to arbitrate under Clause X 
if he .has.; moref than five theatres; 
also Whether or not thert are any 
restriction^ when other pbrtions. of 
the decree (clearance, fprcirig of 
shorts, disierimination, withholdina 
print!!, etc.)- form the basis for i 
complaint. 

A distributing legal iritcrprietation 
of the. consent decree, which Is ac* 
curate and may serve as a means of 
straieh.tcning' but exhibitors arid 
salesmen who are in doubt, is that 
any exhib or circuit, regardless of 
size, may . avail themselves of arbi- 
tration under the entire decree ex- 
cept Clause X relating to; the arbi- 
trary refusal of a: distrib to grant the 
tun requested. 

When that, trade practice arises, 
there Ts a very . definite" restriction 
and any exhib having more than flv* 
theatres is autbrnatically ineligible. 
If having six theatres, the exhib can- 
not arbitrate regardless, of the clr^ 
cumstances. The clause also nebul- 
ously places a. restriction on the fil- 
ing of a comnlaint when an. exhib 
with less than , six hou.ses is in com- 
petition With a circuit having lesi 
than 15 theatres. 

In other Words, when a distrlb has 
refused to grant the run requested 
by the exhib having five or less 
theatres, the latter cannot come In 
to . arbitrate unless th« distrib has 
leased the pictures to a competitive 
circuit of 1$ or more houses which 
riiay be interlocked through stock 
ownership or are in a buying com- 
bine. • . '::■' .■.■■;-'-"-' ". , 

Clause X,. "under which these te- , 
striotions occur, also jiert^ins tp. 
cases of the exhib with no more than 
five house's; who does not have avail- 
able sufficient product -in nature 
and quality' tb eriable .it to operate, 
oh the run requested by .the. bpera- 
tor. : , '.; ' -• - - - 



I; 



■ •;, . . Hbllywpod,. Deis. Sl;; 

Columbia signed Herbert Marshall . 
and ■Virginia Bruce- to Cb-'Star iri the ' 
Charles R; JRogers' production, 'Sen-.' 
ate /.Page Boys.' ; Picture rolls- Jan. ' 
27 urider ; direction .of ; Alfred E; 
Green. - . - -;-. •.''•'- 

Another Rogers productlori, 'A 
Girl's Best Friend. Is Wall Street,' 
originaHy; slated to; sl^rt Jan. ; 2T on " 
the same lot, has been moved ahead 
to Jan. 15 owin^ to the earlier availr 
ability of FranchPt Tpne, who co- 
stars With Joan Bennett - 



fATHEFIlMEXMI) 
TO SHOW $285,000 NET 

■ Curl'ent earnirij^S of Pathe Filin 
Gbrp; Indicate that ■ the. company will - 
.shbw around $285,000 net profit lor 
the year ended yesterday \ (Tuesday), j 
according to- Wall Street; estimates. , 
Company showed $215,188 in the first 
nine months, :;arid even without any . 
special melon cutting by DuPont 
Film Mfg., in which it holds. a heavy 
stock interest; is expected to add an 
additional $70,000; net profit in tha 
final quarter. 

Eariilngfi were . r u n ri i h g ' hlgH 
enough, about five wcbUs ago lor 
Pathe to -deiclare its fir.st dividend 
on the common.' shares ..since organ- 
ized under the present financial set- . 
up. The common shai'ehCild^rs were, , 
voted 30c per share. , 



Wednesday, January i, 1941 



iPIGTURES 






All Indies 
asMaiorSti^^ 



Hoiiywobd,,tiec..3i.:' , 
Screen WHters,, Guild , has gained- 
virtuar control of the scripter -sii;.. 
liitlon in the film industry by sign- 
ing contracts with practically all the 
Independent producers iartd reaching 
tentative agreements with the rest. 
Pacts, similar , to those with the ma - 
W studios, are :f6r six months iand 
give SWC the right; to arbitrpite any . 
disputes that may arise .oyer screen 

credits. • ■■ ■ 

Indies, who. have signed are 
Edward Small, Howard . Hughes, 
Qlpbe, Principal Artists Productions, 
Alexander Korda, James Roosevelt, 
iTank Lloyd, Frank Capra/ Larry 
Darmoup and David L. Lojew-Albert ; 
Lewiri, Inc.. David. O. Selznick has 
promised to sign after he forms is 
new corpoiratibri. With a few minor 
details to .be worked out, . tentative 

. agreements have; been reached ] with 
Republic, Hal Roach, Walter Wanger 
and Monogram. . . 

. : Coast , leaders- of the. CIO, armed 
with 17,660 membership pledge cards 
Irtm. various labor classifications in 
the major-. siudibsV are, waiting for' 
a chance to crash- the film industry; 
There will be no diriect move in that 
direction; according , to the leaders, 
who Insist that any action Ayill have 
come from the workmen themselves. 
. Crux of:, the .situation, the CIO 
representatives declare, is the. unset- 
fled condition of. several studio lo- 
calf aligned with Ihteirnational Alli- 
anca of Theatrical .. Stage Employes. 
George E. Browne, flrexy of lATSE, 
ii reported: to be investigating the 
possibility of a GIO drive in Holly- 
wood.;. ■. 

Belief here is that any such move 
.J>y CIO would result ffi lATSE tak- 
ing command of the 10 stiidio locals 
to protect its own jurisdiction; with 
the American -. Federation ; of Labor 
taking over spnie of the. independent 
. crafts to forestall CIO. Thus, far the 
AFL, in the middle of an prgainiza- 
•tlpn campaign in the film, industry, 
has been keeping hands off the indie 
tuilons. 

beep Cut Into Extra Lists 

. .Producers Association meets Jan. 6 
to approve the Standing Committee 
teport recommending a heavy cut in 
the list of available extras. Appj oyal 
means the dropping of: 2,900 atmos- 
phere players who worked 10 days 
or less in 1939. These casual extras 
were paid approximately $200,000, 
Which, will be available'for distribu- 
tion to regular extras whose sole 
•upport is the picture industry. 

Motion Picture Costiuners Union 
■ubmitted demands to Pat Casey, 
producer-iabor contact, fot, a five- 
. flay, 4.0-hour week, with uppcd wages 
tor employes in the lower pay 
brackets. Huddles between produc- 
ers and: union representatives begin 
.next week. 

^Herbert AUer, business represent- 
•tive of Internalidnal Lpcal 659, 
conferred with. Wall Disney studio 
•xecutives to discuss a proposed cfnr 
tract fiovernihg the wages and woik- 

Ujg. conditiDhs ;f or cameramen. Most 
Pf the .cartoonists in the Disney planl 
nave already signified their intention 

- JO affiliate, with the Screen :Car- 
wonists Guild, 

. PrPducers and Studio Scenic Art-' 
"IJJ exchanging diplomatic notes 
with a.possibility that a coilitraet will 
»• - wgned . when Herbert Sorrtill.- 
DMsmess. representatiyie of Motion 
Pictures Painters Local '644, returns 
nom his Oakland vacation. 



b Row forillbureeii 



. ' .: Hollywood, Dec, si, 
Erich ' ' .Pornmer, . picked ■ Maureen 
Q'Hara for the femme lead in his 
forthcoming RKO production, Two 
on an Island.' . ' 

Two pictures,^ tKe ciirrent "They 
Met " in Argentina* arid 'Water Gyp- , 
sies,' precede.: 'Island* Miss 
O'Hara's schedule. > : - 






,S.F., Placed 



Stftted That th« W^d^e Intb 
; Thektfes; Natioiially;^^ W^^ 

: Coine Via the N. Y. Home- 
: Office* of the Siindry 
: Chains or Partiierships 



DETROIT EX AMPLE 




; Sah Francisco, Dec. 31. 
The much-mooted .consent decree 
and its multifarious ramifications 
won't make much change in the cus^i 
tomary serenity , of Frisco's film row. 
A little more paper work, a few 
more visits from exhibs, and per- 
haps fewer headaches for the .ship- 
ping dopartnreht Is the way they 
summarize it here, . 'It's like all the 
other overwhelming; s t u p e n d o.u s 

i problems, in this business/ philoso- 

I phizes George Ballentine. of .20th.- 
Fox. When they actually arrive they 
always tinsnari themselves somehow 
and a . short time , later you ne.ver 

i know anything has happened.' 

I An increase in.clericial work ap- 
parently will, be the major change 
here. The scireening problem, worry 
of many eastern centers, has caused 
no ripple here yet; . 

'There'll be' a few. more exhibs 
Iboking at pictures, but I thifnk you'll, 
find that the average exhib will con- 
tinue to gauge his reactions by audi- 
ences in first-run houseis. But as for 
trade.showirig the first-runners al- 
ways, look at their: product aiiyway, 
and. we screen all ;our pictures, so 
actually,.there won't be any grpat 
change in the preiseht setup.' 

Paramount, 26.th, Universal, Warn- 
ers and RKO all have screening 
rooms,, in addition to another rental 
room on the row, which is expected 
16; be .ample to .care for p'reyiew 
needs. In the. event of overflow, 
plenty of h.ou-^es are available in con- 
venient location;?. . 



Reported that the International 
Alliance of Theatrical-. Stage Em- 
ployees, which has beeri quietly , or- 
ganizing- Various - Ahieatre crafts 
throughout the cpuntry, is beginning 
to. make its big moye in! the organ- 
ization of picture houses from top 
to bpttom. • ..yarious points around 
the couhtry, such as Detrpit Where 
trouble, has .just . cropped .up, .may 
serve as testing points 6n the I A 
campaign and. not uiilooked for in 
the trade is that the lA may use its 
studio strength, for pressure.' 

Among other things, it is. bielieye;d 
that. lA would like, to throw the re- 
sponsibility on labor • - niatters .as 
much :on 'New York as possible, 
especially so far as large circuits, 
which have partnerships, .are con- 
cerned. With result; negotiations may 
be presised with circuit h.o.'s instead 
of through lpcal operators or part^ 
ners. N. Y. C. itself is well, organ- 
ized under lATSE auspices. With all 
theatre- help under contract in N:.Y. 
and Bropklyn excepting ushers. 

During the past ..week union 
trouble cropped up in Miami Beach 
in connection - with the .. opening 
Christmas Da.y . (25) . of the new 
Beach theatre^ an' S. A. Lynch-Par 
ppei-atibn, but that was straightened 
put. '." 

Detroit's Case 

, Much more alarming are the diffi- 
culties and the threats in Detroit, 
affectirig. not only Par there but 
Pther operators,. United Detrpit 
Theatres,, a Par subsidiary, had 
scheduled to open a new house, the 
Royal.. Friday night (27) but ran up 
against unanticipated union . de- 
mands.. Stagehands got tough by in- 
sisting on putting in a maintenance 
man at $78 a. week, With result When 
demands were refused,, the operators 
would not go, into the booth. House 
couldn't open and is still unlatched.. 
Wisper & Wetsman, independent 
neighborhppd operators, are involved 
since they built the Royal and have 
a. piece of it with Par. 
Still additional difficulty fn De- 



$78 Stagehand Balks Preem 



troit involves .an effort; of the .janlr 
tors to obtafn recognition and a con<- 
tiract. ' Reported labor interests from 
Chicago, probably representing thie 
lA, prganized the janitors in Detroit 
and they are jnaking their bid under 
threats, tp fiicket theatresi ■ Under- 
stood they hiaive obtained .agreement 
from other unions not ' tp. cross a' 
picket line if thrown Up. American. 
Guild^of Vairiety' Artists, the lA and 
musicians, are .mentioned lii - this 
connection. 

Because of resistance from the 
theatres, the janitors threatened to 
organize a picket line- last night 
CNeW Year's Eve) in front 'of Par'is 
Michigan in Detroit, which this weefe. 
has a . hblidayi. stage show. 

; Fears, are that similar unrecog-: 
hized unions in the lA or AFL group 
may begin .testing their strength In 
other -parts of .-the country shortly 
after New Year's in a move directed 
by George E. Brown to solidify the 
lA throughout the entire nation: 



• • ■ > 




mooo 

For False Arrest 
in 





Holly woodi Dec. 31. 
District .Court of Appeals on Mon- 
day (30) affirmed a judgment, fpr 
damages , to Herbert Sorrell, biz rep 
of the Studio Painters Union, and 
Ralph Peckham growing out of false 
arrest in a studio strike several 
years ago. 

, Warners and Blayney Mathews, 
studio police chief, Were defendants 
in case. Jury's. award of $15,000 was 
reduced to' $9,000 by subsequent 
court actions which Appellate . Di- 
vision has just affirmed. 



Lang on 'Man Hunf 



Hollywood, Dec. 31. 

Fritz Lang gets the directorial. task 
Oh 'Man Hunt,' a story undergoing a 
lot of rewriting since its publication, 
as the novel, 'Rogue Male.' ; 

Filming starts early in January at 
20th-Fox. 



RCA Common- s 20c j)iyyy 

. Common stockholders of Radio 
Vorp. of Arfierica, on record as own-; 
ffi last Dec. 20, start off the new 
year with a 20c divvy melon., Divi- 

JWnd is payable Jan. 27, but action. 
R^he distribution was taken, early 
. »■ December, It .gives. RCA common 
shafeholders a flying start. :on . diyi-' 
pends for the year bccau.sc only 2Qo 
Was paid all of 1940. - 
OTv^^ also is paying the cu.stomary 
'TVic and: $1,25 [on- its -first preferred 
^ 'B' preferred shares as of today 
IW^d.), this /representing the iisuS.! 
. aiJarterly distribution for the: 'final 
Quarter of 1940. 



ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 

NEXT WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8 






of 




Advertising Forms Close Friday, Jan, 3 
No Advance in Rates or Neivsstand Pripe of 




Many subscribers aiul readers buy extra copies of Variety's 
: anniversary issues to be mailed to friends* Orders should be 

placed in advance with your newsdealer or at any Variety office 

NEW YORK . HOLLYWOOD CHICAGO LONDON 

154 W. 46lh $1. 1708 N. Vine St 54 W. Randolph St. 8 St. Martin's PL 



. r ^ : ; Detroit, Dec; 31, . 
• Refusal of the ; United Detroit 
Theatres and the Wisper & Wetsman 
circuit, joint operators: of the new 
luxury house, to pay a $78 weekly 
salary to a stagehand for the new 
Royal halted the scheduled opening 
of the 2,5o6-seat. $306,000 .liabe here. 
Instead of a gala opening Friday 
(27)^ the theatre . turned iaway 3,500 
custom.eirs 'at t.he windows; refunded 
to those who had bought in advance 
and .handed but the following istate- 
meht to all who came put for the 
opening. ^ ' \ 

'We exceedingly regret - the incon- 
venience caused you by the failure 
of this theatre to open. We feel 
the following explanation is due 
you. This theatre;, constructed and 
• equipped iri its entirety by .uriioh; la-^ 
.ijpr, will not. open as the i*esult of 
the unreasonable and. illegal demands 
of the Stage Hands Union, who die-, 
mand that we employ a stagehand at 
a salary bf;$78 per week. For your 
Information, a stagehand is one who 
during the presentation of a . stage 
show moves scenery! and other equip- 
ment used by the actors in the 
piresentation of their act. Since this 
theatre will have no stage shows 
there is absolutely no work of any 
kind for a stagehand to do. 
- 'Two moving picture operators to 
whom we are willing to pay the 
union scale of $105 per week per 
man refuse to Work unless we em- 
ploy a stagehand. Because of these 
facts and for no other reason what- 
soever this theatre Will not open. 
We will pay for all work done but 
refuse to pay a man $78 per week 
when there is absolutely no work of 
any kind for him to do. What would 
you do if you were in our :position?' , 
The Detroit "Theatrical Protective 
Association claimed that there was 
work for a stagehand to do , at the 
new house in the form of mainte- 
nance. The union said it Was neces- 
sary for a stagehand to handle the 
ligliting backstage and supervise exit 
facilities, 

Roger Kennedy, international, rep- 
resentative of the M:P.<D.U., said that 
naturally none of the members of the 
operatprs union would go to wjork . 
until the theatre's dispute With the/, 
stagehands was settlied. 

The house continued dark over the. 
weekend with no negotiations im- 
pending. 



LVille Usher Walkout 
In Unionization Drive 

Louisville, Dec. 31. 

Ushers at the Strand, Rialto, Rex 
(Fourth Ave. Amus; Co. houses), and 
the Kentucky, operated by Switow 
Bros., were on striate last ■ week, as 
part o( a move by Clem Johnson, - 
repi^esenting the Building .Service 
Employes union (AFL) to organize 
l;hc^ ushers,;, Usiiers at the ' Brown, - 
Loew's State, and Mary . Ander.crin 
were /not affected and "dcciincd; 
joi/i ■ the movement, which up. to 
the present has merely resulted in 
the affected ho u.ses being subject to ' 
picketing. No violence has been evi-. 
dent, with; the exception of -a; minor 
alterciiiioh with one of- the woi"king 
ushers,; who had his tiie pulled out, 
; , lATSE local' has refused to take 
any^ part in the strike, claiming that 
while tHe Buildinjg Scrvic^ Employes^ 
group is affiliated with the AFL, 
que^tion.' resolvcs - itself into, a juri.<f- 
dictional dispute. Claimed that ush- 
ers properly belong in lATSE if that 
• union Would be Interested in- taking 
them - in,, and" that if and when this 
is decided upon, then, it would be 
time enough to enter into the local 
.situation. , 

■■ .By Sunday i'2!)) .hight, all ushera 
had returned to work arid picketing 
had been practicaUy 'di.scoiitin.ued,;. '. 



PAR BOEEQWS LODER 

liollywoodi Dec. 31,; 

Paramount borrowed John Loder 
from 2"0th-Pox tor, one of the top 
roles in 'One Night; in Lisbon.' ' . 

Actor recently finished. 'Uncen- 
sored' on that lot. 



EXPLOITATION 



W^dnesda^, Jahiiary 1,- 1941 




J^iricolrt,- Deic.:3tV 

beterhii natioiti ., of the qbUnty at- 
torney's .ottice' here to\rid tincoln ol 
giveaway stunts In- theatres, foqnd 
him d}siir)isslng; one action: against 
the Neijraska; city , managfef ■ R, • W. 
Huffmati, and houisc: maitagcr' Gene 
Shahahan: ptte'Xday last week; and 
filing a new one. ; . 

His target; is> XYie. theater^ 'Abner 
Askit' groctei-y giveaWay gag, played 
with answers . to . questions 'on card 
like bingb, first, to/gc.t- fpjur; rows ot 
4wcries answered takihg the.prize. V 

First;, action failed, according, to 
Muny jiidge Fishet'^ because it "could i 
only be • filed under the . state's . ahtl- 
lottery statute; .and . was not. So. the 
first acUbn- . was f bided by vthe. d.a., 
and the' second'set of papers' vwient on 
the "docket- immediately. Cas^ will 
come tb trial Jan. 10, sirtd both man- 
agers have posted ,$^Pp bond for ap- 
pearance. 

Nebraska Is nb longer- Sponsoi:ing 
the gift, show..'", which' 'rah every. 
Thursday 'might 'fob two. m^^^ 

fore legal action was^ initiated. : \ 
'Prosperity clubs' . 

Asking for action oh pleadings in 
the case against the Omaha . Mbtiori, 
Picture Exhibitors assbciati<5n, Atty.-. 
Gen; Walter Johnson ^ filed: a ihotion 
vcith supreme, court this week asking 
judgment .rendered for continijed op- 
eratibn • of .the gift . stmit . OMPEA's 
'Prosperity Clubs', 

Johrison claims it's bank . night in 
principle, fancied Vup to evade the 
' lottery lawi. Bariko waff slapped down 
Jiine- 26, 1937, and Joliinson .wants 
piinishment handed OMPEA for at- 
temt)ting to dodge the lottery issue. 

Nebraska lottery provisions call 
for the presence of prize, chance and 
consideration. OMPEA 'adniits the 
first two, but since : agreeing to piiy 
off to registrations oil ; the day . of 
drawing whether a ticket . Is bought 
or not, Jjelieves there is no element 
of consideration. Johnson says , the 
mei-e turning Into, k theatre lobby 
and sighing a name Is giving of a 
person's time, and time is worth 
something— thereforie, ; consideration 
Is present. 

OMP^A. offers $500 each AVedhes: 
day night, the assessment ot 26 
Oinaha theatres. If undrawn, it goies 
to $750, then to $liOOO; $l;Ooa is the 
. most which can be given away each 
week. There are some 40,000 registra; 
tibhs now on tab for the; stunt. 

All the gambling :elements and 
urges are present in this idea;, accord- 
ing to Johnson, and. he! paints a pic- 
ture of the theatres preying, on the 
individual who is enliced>. to' risk 
small money to get big. 

Ohio still Uncertain 

" Colunibus, iDic.-Sl 
Status of hank night in Ohio; after 
the . Supreme Co\irt refused to rule 
on, its legality, still remains status 
quo: maybe yes, maiybe no. After 
nearly two years of court action, the 
case of Attenweiler vs. Troy Amiise 
merit Co. reached .the highest state 
court, but the bench, while refusing 
to ^rant an injunction preventing 
Troy police from interfering . with 
bank night: at the i^ayflowcr theatre 
there, declined to^ rule ori legality of 
the game; Court explained stand, in 
asmiich as they could not make a. 
decision oh criminal statutes in iri 
junotlori proceedings, by pointing out 
that- an arrest on lottery charges; 
with appeals, \yould hnhg a- .solution 



, INSPIRATION? 

illt on . the Head, Theatre Man 
Writes Best Ad Campaign 



; San; Firanciscoi bec....31. ' 

"Whvle everyliody gave him credit 
ior flu, secans (hat C.hai:liBy,.Schalifei:. 
of : the' TJnited Arti.st* here spent two 
weeks .on . hi? /back .actually on ..ac- 
count bf. a concussion. .Stboped;pyer 
in. his own kitchen ,and banjged his 
noggin 01) .an- open., cupboard door 
a's ' he came up. pidri't' notice any;- 
(hing. until several hoiiris later when 
he suffered a hear ■; collapse, , doc or^; 
; deririg- him tO;- b.?d pronto . whf re hie 
, stSye'di. - ^^ ■!■,. 
: Odd sidelight /is that this cafinpaigh 
for 'Thief of. Bagdad' which he pre-- 
pared while flat pn his biaclc furhcd 
out best of any in recent months. 
After glimpsing .first day's biz, Schal- 
ifer's, boss' has ' 9ugBcsted he ' get ■ at 
least ohe ■concu.'aiort peir .jiidhth. : 
:. *-Pd be a hero if . I'd . got / koriked 
■in a. car,* wails. Charies,/'but because 
it happened .ih my own house, every- 
body, just laiighs;' •• ' ■ ' "\ 



Ycb^ Let 



. Boston, Dec . 31.^ 
: George .Raft Is- playing \ the 
RkO Boston on a persbhali ap- 
pearance. ^z; 

The Trahslux, jacross the street, 
is offering him in a reissue of 
'Scarfacc,' with ah English co-; 
feature tabbed 'Let ;Gebrge Do. 



CUFF LEWIS MAY GO 
RKOONSCHAMROK 



Cliff Lcy^'is, adveirtising-publiclty 
head of the Parampunt studio who 
was succeeded in . that post recently 

by George Brbwn,, may join RKO in-' 
stead of coining east to go into an 
exploitation: spot with Paramount ait 
the h.o. Understood RKO is inter- 
ested; in him, on the recommendation 
of George J. Schaeferj who was for 
■years with Par, w^en Lewis was on 
h.o; advertising. . 

Arcli Reeve, ' lately with 20th-Fox 
and now on the Coast, was uiider 
consideration for the Lewis spot at 
the t'ar studio before Brown wais 
set. . ReeVe . is no\y ill Ayith gastric 
ulcers whicli caused serious hem- 
morhage complicatibn.s. , : 



HyDaab Joins: Par 

Flacks Fly tbe Coop 



.Hollywood, Dec. 31. 
i Hy "Daab,; veteran 'fflm - publicist 
and onetime 'advertising manager of 
yAuiEty, has checked in at Paramount 
to take charge of .special campaigns, 
ishift ; is one of :the results ; of. the 
^general shakeiip ; fOllQwing the ap- 
ppihtmeht .of •George. Brown as. stu^ 
::diO's publitity chief. . . , ; ■ 

Five taembers of the, flackery; Bert 
Holloway, Bill Hebert, Arthur. Pow- 
ell,: Bob Burkhardt and Bob Blewitt 
have checked . off the • Iptv .Hollo- 
way's. . post asi head .of :thie; ;unit 
rbbm was taken -over biy Murphy . Mcr 
Henry, who moyed over:' frpni .Ed- 
ward ^iriall Productions, iwhere he 
Was; in charge of publicity and.adverr 
tiisihg for two years. Other vacan- 
cies will be filled later. . 

Daab. graduated frbni the ne.\yspa-? 
per ; field to . become: /advertisihg- 
publicity boss of Ihe old Cole-Rob- 
er'tsbn outfit, which turned' into . FBO 
aiiid latei: into RKO; In 1933 he took 
charge of Columbia's.' ad-publicity 
staff in. New York; ;find. joined 
■Varietj in 1938. . . 




7: 



-Starting shbrtlyi Leonard .Go.lden< 
soii. Paramount .home office theatre 
executivje working idirectiy . lindej: 
Barney' Bialabah, . will .make: an ex- 
haiustiVe tpiir of seveiial piairts Of the 
cQuritry to personally cbnfer ^y ith 
field operators, house managers and, 
to look, over theatre 'properties- he 
;hasn't .seen;-'.''' 

He iwiU cover the entire south, the 
•Texas territory, tittle- Rock, i arid 
New England ainipng ixthers. Dur- 
ing the pa^t year Goldehson; in cpni- 
pany " with,;.Sam: Dernibow, Jr., has 
covered every northern i theatre iln 
the Par Jlpld.: At present recuper- 
ating at his Cedar i Island (Larch- 
mont, iN. Y.).home from an auto acr 
Pident, Deinbpw will not be able to 
resume ttny tiraveiing top Par ifor "it 
least a month. 



PHIIIy Goes for Ganies . 

Philadeljphia; Dec. 3.I.- 
.-;MOte.-th.an 70'Philly nabe.s are;h.biti:' 
ping on . the gam.es t«indvvagbh as 

. resuit of the recent ruling .of - Judge 
Howard. A. Davis in/cbmmon ¥leas 
Court '4eplaring;- ,that.- 'Zihgo* ■. .aiiid 

' 'Gash :Quiz'_ were, legal. 

'Cash .Quiz,' distrilputeci here;by 
P^vid : Malsm'ah, vgoes into - abPiit 35~ 

- houses, starting 4his week. TbiE- ganie 
consists of flashing qucgtiOnS on the 
screen and punching, ; of ■ correct an-' 
svvers ;pn cards held . by, patiphs." 
Cash prizes are .given to winners. . 

'Tlingp.' owne.d /and' distributed by 
David MOlliveri local iindie: exhibi 
goes into :a like hujriber of theatres 
pn Jan; 6. In: thk game a . play .is en- 
acted from -the screen witji' isoimd^ ef;; 
fedts ehianaiting from the sound track. 
P'layers ■at* aiskeii to identify- the 
sounds; . .,■• 



Aldridge Vici? Rogers 

. : Hollywoodi Dec. 31. 
.Katharine Aidridge^:WJis . assigned 
to .-fill the role left Vacant by the ill- 
ness ot Jean Rogeris.BS femme lead 
in 'bead Men-TellVat 2qth-Fox,, V 
$hift was made beifore Miss Rbgers 
appeared in - the picturie, lo no rty 
takes, are necessary; . 



Tantasia^ Into^^^ 

'Fantasia' will have its first three 
■openings outside of New •York late 
in, January. They wiH be iii Boston, 
Philadelphia and Lps Angeles, with 
only Boston fully set ' It will be 
Jan. 23 at the Majestic; Dates in 
Phiily and L.a; will, be within a 
couple days of Boston. ' Houses have 
riot been chosen. 

Hub home Of the Dishey miisical 
is a l,400-seat;shubert house which 
has recently been dark. Broadway, 
at which the pic is playing in New 
York, is also a Shubert holding, 
although there is said to be np sig- 
nificance in the coincidence.: Policy 
in Boston, will be exactly the i same 
two-a-day, reserved seat as in. Man- 
hattan. Milton Chamberlain, who 
formerly operated . the Little Car- 
negie and pther class .houses in 
N; Y., will bp manager. Jack- Gold- 
stein, Bbstoii legit p.a., will handle 

■press,.. \:" ■■' '^ - yy: -■'.'■: 

pick' CbndOni: Disney puiiliciity 
chief, who has beehvpii an advance 
•tOur,', was; called back to his desk in 
New York last .week aS result of thb 
.jiani-up cau.'fed by qiiick-pf der open- 
ings, Frank . Braden,; whib: w^s iac- 
cbmpanying hiiri: during the winter 
layoff . of Rlngli'ng Bros. .; circus. 
Which he regulafly , publicizes, ^ will 
handle' this. Philly "preein." :L.A; ii'ri- 
■veiiing' will be tinder^ auspices pf 
studib- prpss departnieht.^ ■ ; / ^ 

.Hal iHorne, :Pisnoy pastern rep, 
Avill'gp. tb Chicago arid Detrbit this 
Week. ;tp . make a selection from ai 
riurnber,: of houses ■giyen pn okay by 
Di.sney engiricers. Chi; Dettoit arid 
iWashingtori will be the ; second .trio 
of flijeningS,^ ;'..'■' 



DISC COSTS STYMIES 
FILMS' S. A, BALLY IDEA 



Plan to use ian industry radio pro- 
ram, via discs - spotted , on local. Latin- 
Americari stations, has struck a 
shag. Heavy expense entailed by 
such an alignment has ;caused sevr 
eral ma j br , company foreign piublicr 
ity chiefs to oppose the idea, orig- 
inally outlined by Metro. Itiwas the 
cost item which was one, of the prin- 
cipal objections raised against the 
Latin- American sriortwaVe proposal 
of iNatibhal Broadcasting CP. : 

Despite the objections '. . . cost, 
final check has not been Completed 
and until it is made no vote of major 
companies on: the discs' plan will be 
riiade. . However, alniost upaninious 
vote will be necessary if the Latin- 
American idea becomes an industry 
affair. 



Dixie Very Active . 

Spartanburg, S. C, Dec. '31. 
, New Year looms ps one of busiest 
pn record for Dixie theatre :constr'uc- 
tioh and -reriiodeling.'. :New. Palmetto 
job startis iri January here. ' . Ground 
broken for- or. E.M. Mc'Dairiiel's new 
Martinsville; "Va., iinit. W; F; Garna- 
ham, operating ' theatres at Beatty^. 
ville and Morehead, .Ib^., Will build 
new Sandy Gap, Kjr. theatre to re- 
place phe burned. ' Gresent^ Amus, 
Co. . buildinjg : new Decatur, Ala., 
housie, slated for January, opening. 
New I'Mecck; opened at Tullahoma, 
Tenn., by Cumberland Amus. Go. 
Eugene Russell, transferred from 
Princess, Nashville, :is: manager, Dr. 
Mi D. Garred purchased the Ash■^ 
land tKy.) Capitol arid will.rennodcl.. 
Fairfax (Ala.) theatre being re- 
modeled. Rialto,. KiiigspOrt, Tenn., 
Will be reniodeled by 'Charles Burns, 
adding 140 seats. 

Crescent, Little Rock, Ark,, also 
Slated for remodeling job. Ellison 
Dunn building new Ashford, Ala., 
liriit. Cameo opened . In ; Orlando, 
Fla- House is .412-sedter, Work be- 
^un on house- at Starke, Fla,, for 
W. N. Carnasion; Will seat 700, C. 
T. Chapirir managerj Dixie and Riti. 
announces liOOO-seater to start soon 
in Ocala, Fla. Sparks chain ready- 
ing plans ior theatre at Fort'Meyers, 
Fla. House Will seat 800. Pewitt & 
Roysil are building new Meridian, 
Miss,, unit. 

Dayton, Ky., gets hew 800-seater to 
be built by A.. Bressler, operating the 
Libei-ty.: Majestic, Green Forest; 
Ky., instailled new stage, screen and 
heating. New Clark opened iat Win-: 
Chester, Ky., by Meyer if Schwartz. 

Fiske-Carter Construction Co.; 
Spartanburg, arid Jones Construction 
Co., Charlotte, .N. C, will build 
three theatres on 20,000 army reser- 
vation at Spartanburg. Hbusei for 
'16,500 men :due' tb start training 
March 15. 



Specki 'Va.' Preeiii 
For Brit War Relief 



The Canadian Maple , Leaf Fund, 
Canadian-sponsored organization in 
this country ifor British war. relief, 
has arranged to take over the en- 
tire orchestra floor of the Para- 
mount; N.: Y-, Jan. 28, for a special 
premiere that night of 'Virginia.' 

The Fund plans selling the , seats 
itself at advanced prices, with the 
proceeds to go . Intp the Piind's 
treasufy. 

In addition to; the Glerin. Miller 
band and the.^ regular Par show ,;to 
play Avith ^Virginia,' , there Will ibP 
personal appearances of starsr frorii 
screen, stage arid ra^lo on the preem 
Which w'ill be Bt ;8:30:p.m; 



iro 



'Scattprgbpd Baihes,' firist pi-oduc-. 
tiOri made byi Pyramid -for. RKO re: 
lease; is gettirig a never KbOst. this 
monthvon the radio ; show of .the- 
same title ; .sponsored by Wrigley. 
Progranls will concjsri) theinselves 
with the film version of 'Soattergobd 
Raines,' many of sctlpts • being 
framed: around the picture and pos- 
sible production locations. : • 

Film now is set for release on 
Feb. 21. . Ouy Kibbee has title role. 



Holly wbbdy . Dec. 31.. - 
: David pi Selzhick engaged 'VTictbr t/l. 
Shapiro to handle special publicity 
for twb- picture?, ; indicating- that the 
producer., of 'Gone .With the Wind' 
is about to make ' ah. early ■ start: on 
the' two flliris he oWes United Artists 
Shapiro's pontract is -with tlhc-new 
Payid:©. Selznick Productions, sue 
ceSsor tp Seiznick-international. He 
will yemain with, the ripw piitfit .un- 
til late spring, '\yheh hei mbves out 
to f ijlfill a previous commitment. 



PUXOT JOINS TJA STAFF 

Leb Pillot, who had been doing Qc 
casional wbrk fpr the United Artists 
exploitation department, .was added 
permanently -to . the' publicity staff 
last week. He will handle trade pa 
pers. ■ -' 

Arthur Jeffrey Will contlniife to 
service dailies and syndicates and 
Butt Chsiiripion -will handle, general 
duties, specializing In radio. ; 



Schlne's .Closed /town . 
Mt. Vernon; O., Dec. 31. 
Belpik Corp., Schine subsidiary, has 
been given .a five-year Ibase on the 
theatre: in the Knox County Mem- 
orial Bldg. in Mt. Vernoni O. The 
lease gives Schine control of all 
three houses here. 



Maler's Shift 

Buffalo, Dec. 31. 
William Maier, formerly with 20th- 
Fox here, becomes manager of the 
Behling's Ellen Terry replacing O. 
W. Klinck; 

Annual exodus to Florida this 
month includes the A. G. Haynians, 
Lafayette, the A. C. Behlings, .Ellen 
Terry, the Frank Smiths, Eggcrts- 
ville; George Biehler, Palace, Harti- 
burg. - 

Jack Reed, Hollywood, Gowanda, 
elected : sec-treas of Eastern Tan- 
neries/ ■ ■ - . 
• - iiewly announced remOdelings in- 
clude George Phillips' Schiller Park, 
Syracuse, and Dick : TeTota's Gene- 
see, Mt. Morris. • 

Vern Kelly, .M-G. cljecker, died 
suddenly of a heaft attack in iSyra- 
cuse. ■; .■■ ■ ' , 

Sidney S. Ktilick, state sales- miah- 
ager PDC, touring western - and 
southern N. Y. : 

Gertrude Lutzi (Ricbotta), for 
many years soprano with Shea's 
Buffalb orchestra, mother of baby 
girl. . • ■.:;.: ..■ ' . - ■;■' 
. Clara; Johes, Shea's Buffalb staff, 
remains . at: . the City hospital where 
she has been a patient over a year; 

Several Syracuse nabes, following 
ineeting held by the Syracuse exhib 
grbupi^, . increaising admissions from 
15c to 20c .arid will .abolish . children' 
5-lOc matinees. .^ 

. ; Hayes Garbaririo. -riewly appointed 
manager of Dipson's. Franklin, Lack 
awanha, was robbed in. broad day- 
light in front of the theatre ' on his 
way to. bank with the preceding day's 
receipts. , Two men slugged him with 
a lead pipe Iriflicting fractures of the 
skull arid right arrii. • : . 

Talley Heada Pitt Union . 

Pittsburgh, Dec. .31: 
Ted Tolleyvof Metro has been re 
elected president of Filmrpw Ex 
change Employes Union, B-11, and 
Alfred Kutan, WB, was nanied toithe 
buslaess agent'c post. Othet <jitticefs 



are 'Sarah ■ Kells, IRKO, v.p;;. John. 
Navpriey, Par, treasurer, and Mary 
Carroll, RKO, secretary. Cbnlihu- 
irig as members of executive board 
are Jack Fontaine, Par; Harold 
Tirikei', RKO; Mary Hughes. WBj 
Orlando Boyle, Col; Henty Sliver- 
man, NSS, and Eva Reiff, Col. 
Tirustees fOr 1941: will be Jack Welt- 
ner, MG; Joe Pemberton, U, and 
Harry Reiff, Cpl. ; 

New theatre Will be Opened within 
few weeks in Nanty Gib, . Pa-, by 
Philip LaMantia, who operates the 
Dodge auto; agency . in that; town.- 
LaMantia, however, isn't a new- 
comer to the exhibitor field, ha Vin^ 
been fomer partner of- Joe Delisi, 
who pwns; the Capitol and New 
Family in Nanty Glo. 

Brief ies: It's a second daughter for 
the Johnny Mayers. He's the Pisnn 
artist. ; . ..The Jake Smiths (Barhes-i 
boro exhib) have left for a vacatiori 
in. Florida. ; . .Roxy, Martinsburg, 
Pa,, been acquired by Blatt Bros; . 

Joe Bugala named manager of the 
Marios theatre, in Ell wood City, Pa.,, 
succeeding Hariy G. BondUrant, . re- 
signed. Appoiritmerit ■was made by 
Bernard; Bucheit, district manager 
for Manos Pircuiti who transferred 
Bugala frorii chain's Latrobe house, 
the Olympic. ' 

Robert Jacob:;, 22, son of ISld Ja- 
cobs, district manager fbr WB un- 
der Harry Kalmine, has beeri called 
up: for active duty in U; S. Army. 
Young Jacobs, a second lieutenant 
in the reserve corps, reports at Nara-' 
gansett Bay Jan. 2. . < 

Sam Bianco, Of the State, ,Clyriier, 
died last week In the Johris Hopkint 
Hospital; Baltimore, after brief ill- 
riess. One- of his sons, Johri -Bianco,- 
has managed thp house for some 
time. ■ ;■ 



Phila. Showmen Elect 

. Philadelphia, Dec. 31: •' 
Shbwmen's Club held elections, for 
officers for 1941; at their hew .quar- 
ters on Vine street last week with 
the. following chosen: A. B.. Blbfsori, 
'star'; Charles Goldfirie,- 'stand-in'; 
Myer Adelman, 'ye.s-man'; . Isadora 
Gewertz,, 'script man'; Wilson Turner, , 
'financial script man'; Samuet Rosen, 
'banker'; David W. .Yaffe, 'coupr 
sellor'; and George Sobei; David 
Stai'kman, CharleS^ Stiefel, and Maiir. 
rice H. Verbin, 'members of the 
board of producers.' 

Charles Goldflne, operator of the 
Aldan, has been selected chairman ; 
of the film industi'y'^s committee for 
the Salvation Army piampaign. 

Frank McNamee, former RKO ex- 
change boss'; will head the Infantile. 
Paralysis drive as busine.ss manager.. 
James P. Clark Ls general chairman. 

Members of the picture, committed 
for the campaign are Earle Sweigert, 
Sam Gross, Charles Zagrans, Sarii 
Stiefel. and Oscar Neuf eld. 

More than 400 employes of the Af- 
filiated Theatre circuit and their 
families were guests of prexy Dave 
Milgrain at a dinner party at the 
Hotel Majestic Sunday night (29). 

Enriployes of the Stanley- Warner 
circuit got a week's pay as" a Yule- 
tide bonus at a party at the . Warner. 
Club on Tuesday. In return they 
gave zone ' boss Ted iSchlangcx » 
radio-victrola combination.; 

Local filmites are planning tb 
throw a testiriionial dinner to Mike 
Lessey and Bill Butler, veteran ex- 
hibs who have retired. Lessey sold 
his Diamorid to the S-W circuit a 
couple of weeks agb; Butler sold his 
Clearfield three years ago. 

Besides . I^ational Screen Service; 
two indie poster houses, opened with- 
in the past two weeks. One is the 
Keystone Poster Exchange, fun by 
John Schaeffer and Jack -Weiss;, the 
other, Indppenderit :Poster : Excliange. 



Bowjers' ' Acquisitlong . 

. . , Llncbln^^^^^ 

Harold G. Bowers, -who has . the 
Chiifef in Weeping Water, Neb.,; 
formed a new corporation last week 
.— ^the Hialtb Bldg; .Co.. . in Beatrice, 
Neb., arid, bought the Rialto in Bea- 
trice from Dean Randall/ of Eugene,: 
Ore, ■■ ■ "■ '.v.- .. . 

Estimated damage to the Broad- 
way, Council Bluffs, la., after the 
recerit fire, was put at $30,000 mostly 
iriterjbr stuffi : It will take more than 
a ■ month to get it ' back in business" 
order, according . tb manager,: Earl 
Kerr;';-. \ •'•■:.;' ■: *' ,' 



Nace Ties In SOth 
AnmWitli 



In- connection With the theatre 
drive In tribute to Barney Balaban 
on his fifth year as president of , Par* 
amourit, Harry t. Nace, operator of 
the PUblix-Rickards-^Nace circuit » 
the far southwest. Is carrying otit » 
30th anniversary celebration over \nt 
chain. 

Making headquarters iat PhoenuCi 
theiP.R-N circuit operates 22 hQU»es" 
in Arizona. Nace is general ffwi' 
ager.:. 



Wedpesday, January 1 1941 



PICTURE GROSSES 




Chicago, D«c; >1. ., 
IVith the holWay ieasoh iihi 1^^ 
-wing, the thefttfes. are raking^ m the 
Jnohey In healthy lashion. AU the 



Cuses are hright spots at present, 
«1 the picturies are hits; and all types 
Sf irianagerhtint .are surefire. Every- 
body and evefything is a success., 

Chicago has a big ^vmner with the. 
Jack Benny-Fred Allen film, 'Loye 
Thy Neighbor.' Shoqld, roll^^up a 
tremendous score with the $1. top 
which will hold thrdughout the town 
Ah the New Year's eve shdws. 

Palace btoUBht in ^Kitty F^yle' to- 
day (TuesdayT and liiere is^another 
surefire money smash iiiom the bell, 
New V ear "s eye or Yom Kippur, 
makes nd differericei : . : 

Elsewhere thei'e are no complaints 
either,, though there is .outstand- 
ing' money production.. .Highly sat- 
isfactory fbr the season; are such- 
hold-overs as 'Bitter Sweet' in the 
United Artists,. 'Thief of Bagdad' m 
-the Roosevelt, 'Arizona' in the. 
Apollo, and rTiri Pan Alley' which -is 
iri the G'ah-rck.:eurrehtly ..for its third 

loop- 5^ssioh;> ; ' - ; ■ . .i. ' . ■ ' 
Ted Weems orchestra on the stage 
of the .Oriental .is the insurance for 
abig sessioiii.^ ■ ■ ■ .. 
Estimates lorThls Week 
Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 35-55-65-75) 
— 'Arizona' (Gol) (2d; wk). Holiday 
upping this ofie to $U,000 after tak- 
ing good $6,200. last week.- 

CbWo (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-^75)— 
•Neighbor* (Par) and stage: show. 
.Cinch for smash coin, maybe 41.53,000 
which is sensational. . Last we.ek, 
Tin Pan. Alley' (20th) .finished a 
fortnight to $25,300 for; second ses- 
sion-.'.' ' 

iBarrlck (BStK) (900; 35-55-65-75) 
—•Tin Pan Alley* (20th). In here 
for thii'd loop gallop . and headed 
" toward $10,000. Last week, .'Letter' 
(WB) finished third loop, stanza to 
$3,800. 

. OrlenUI (Jones) . (3,200; 28r44)— 
•Wolf Keeps Date' (Col) and yaude. 
•Ted Weems band on stage and real 
box-office asset, which will . zQom 
the take to $22,000. ^ Last week, 'Men 
Against Sky' (RKO) and: Singer's 
Midgets .on stage, meager $9,800. 
: Palace (RKO) (2.500; 35r44-66)-^ 
•Kitty Foyle' (RKO). and 'Saint Palm 
Springs' (RKO), Opened today 
(Tuesday). Last week, 'Nanette' 
<SKO) and 'Frisco Docks' (RKO) 
excellent at $10,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-55-65 
75)— 'Bagdad' ; (UA) .(2d wk). Coin? 
to bright $12,000, after taking $9,50l) 

Ifist^ W6CK 

. .^itaterLaka (B&K) (2,700; i28-44)— 
•East River' (WB) and; 'Streets of 
Paris' unit. Wow^ take in the offing 
at $24,000. . Last week, . 'Blond ie 
Cupid' (Col) and Ada Leonard's All- 
American Girl Band todk fine $15,- 
000. ,. . 

United Artists (B&K-M-G) (1,700;- 
85-55-65-75)— *Bitter Sweet' (M-G) 
; (2d wk). wm Snatch $12,000, fine, 
following neat $11,200 last week. 



face', (AstorJ . (re-Issue) and 'Sky 
Bandits' (Rep), sd-so $2,500, . .. 

BlajeBtIb (Fay) (12,200;. 28-39.^50)— 
'Santa Fe' Trail' (WB) and 'Where 
Get Girl' CU). 'Chad Hanha' (20th) 
and 'Pflvate Detective' t20th) helped 
by Cyiristmas upswing to good $7,000. 
Last week 'East Rivier' (WB) and 
'Friend^ Neighbors'. (Rep), okay 
$5,000.. ■ ■ . 

State (Loew) ; (3,200; 28-39-50)— 
'Comrade X' (M-G) and 'Lone .-Wolf 
Date' (Col). . With only: tonight to 
go, . 'Bagdad' (UA) and ^^N&body's 
Children' (Col) is cinching nice 
$13,000. Last week 'Kildare's Crisis' 
(M-G) and 'Escape Glory", (C61), 
weak $7,000. v- - 

Strand (Ihdi«) .(2,000; 28-40-50).^ 
Love Thy Neighbor' (Par) and 
'Aunt-Maggie' (Rep). In Christmiftis 
.week cleanup spot, 'Second Chorus' 
(Par) aind 'TTiree from Texas' (Par), 
knocking ofT'swell $7,800. Last week 
'Earl Carroll's' (Par) and 'Before I 
Hang' (RKO), slow $3,700. 








'MGDAD' CLICKO i3G, 
'CHORUS' $7,8W), PROV. 



Providence, Dec. 31. . 
(Best ExplbiUtlon: Loew's State) 

All stands screening new bills for. 
New Year's eve shows . tonight. 
Should'give hefty'sendoff all' around. 
Fays, which went ofiE the vaude 
Standard last, summer, brought in 
. five acts f bir three-day run starting 

. today. ■ 

■Besides . piutting colorful turbans 
on all the ushers at Loew's State for 
the showing of 'The Thief of Bag- 
cad, managertieht also pulled a . pre- 
Christmas stunt \vhich. didn't make 
dowrttoWn pbiicemeh any too happy. 

. After , putting turbans on, 15 off-the^- 
street boys, each WSs. giVen a sign' 
which. jielped.speU pic title 'Thief of 

. JJagdad. .; Boys - were then instructed 
is in-line and;.parade throujgh 

. trie downtown heavy pre-Obristmas 
■crowds.: Slow. moving and attracted 
plenty attention: Postal. • Telegraph 
I'^l-^P.aKo had boys delivering, about 

c «.UOO mihiatur^e..telegramS advertising 
Pic along with .Tiegular telegrams. 
: - : lEstlniateis^ for This Week 

. ;^AIbee. :(RKO) (2.200: 2'8-39-50)— '• 
TCiUy Foyle'.. (RKO) .and 'Saint Paltji 
Sprrngs- (RKO). Opening tonight 
. (31) after 'Nanette' (RKCii.). arid 'San~ 
*rancisco . Docks'. (Ui -clo^^ed good 
week to .nice $7,200. La.st week, 
.^reaming LDudV.(RK(D), 'Blkckouf 
..(UA) -, and Louis-McCoy fight pix; 
so-So $4,000;. ' . • • • 

^^ay-I'Oew) . (1.400;': 2«-'39- 
50)-;:-'Bagdad' (UA) ^and 'Nobody's 
Children' (Col) (2d f\in). 'Philadel- 
Pj»a,st6ry'.; (M-G). and 'Gallarit S&ns' 
(M-G), ending, fourth downtown 
week: with swell :$3,000 after similar 
. take in 3d stanza; . . . 
t,.^»y •*»l<.Iridie) (2,000; 15-'28)— 'Fargo 

; lyd (RKO.) (rii-issue) and- vaude, 
Give. Us Wings' (U) apd 'Range 
xiustei's' (Mono), currently, cleaning 

"Uj* swell? $3^500, ■ Last-.-wetekv'Scar-^ 



, Washington, De«i 31. 

Holiday openings, which haVe 
played havoc with schedules, and 
rainj which has messed up the .b.o. 
plenty, leaves the figures in pretty 
much of a tangle this week, at least 
insofar as drawing any conclusions 
goes. Only indisputable fact Is that, 
for i holiday:. week, thie totals are 
distinctly disappointing, especially in 
vievv of fact that all major hoiises 
tossed in big attractions with plenty 
behind 'em. 

All spots switched bills to open on 
Christmas eve and all are changing 
today (31) , to have new shows for 
New Year's eve. . 

Tops for week ending yesterday, 
the holiday season, is Palace, Loew's 
big straight pic spot, with 'Thief of 
Bagdad.' Second is CapitoJ, Loew's 
vauder, with 'Chad Hahna' and third 
comes Earle, WB vaude house, with 
'Four Mothers.' Keith's fought hafd 
to. get 'em into 'No, No, Nanette,' 
but couldn't do better , than average 

$7,500. : 

Estimates for Hits 'Week 

Capitol (Loew ) (3.434; 28-39-44-66 ) 
^'Flight Command: • (M-G) and 
vaude. Opened today. Last week, 
'Chad Hanna' . (20th) and vaude . with 
Sheila Barrett and Harriet H6ct6r,- 
adequate $15,000. 

Colombia :(Loew) (1,234; 28r44)-rr 
'Tin Pan Alley' (2dth) (2d run) 
Opened today. Last week, 'Arise 
Love' (M-G) (2d run), back down 
t6\yn after okay week at Palace and 
snagged satisfactory $4,500. 

Earle (WB) (2.216: 28-39-44-66) — 
'Santa Fe Trail' (WB) and vaude. 
Opened today. Last week, 'Four 
Mothers' (WB). passable $12,000. 

Keltb's (iRKO) (1,830; 39-55) — 
'Kitty Foyle' (RKO). Opened today. 
Last week. 'Nanette' (RKO) held for 
average $7,500, 

Met (WB) (1.600,- 28-44) — 'Here 
Comes Navy* (WB) : (re-issue). 
Opens tonight. Last week, 'Chero- 
kee-Strip' (RKO), passable $4,000. 
. Palace (Loew) (2.242; 39-55) — 
'Comrade X' (M-G). Opened to.day. 
Last we^k. - 'Bagdad' (UA) -topped 
town's. : holiday takes with solid 

$16,000. ■ ; 



First Runs qo Broadway 

(.Subject to Change) 



''Week ot Jan; i: - 
Astor^'Gr.eat Dictator' (UA) ' 
(12th wk), >; ; ' 
. Broadway^'iPantasiai' (Disney) 
(8th wk). .:•'..'■ ■ 

Cai»ltol^'{:otnrade X' (Mr^^ 
■•'(2'd wk).. .'•- ' ■■':■ ■'' 
. : CrJterionpLittie Nellie Kelly' ; 
■ <M-G-) (2d Wk). . ' - 
' ; ' Globe 'Night iTraih'- . ^ (20th) 

• .(2d Wk): .: . -" 

M ira I o, > H al l— 'Philadelphia 
Stoty' (Mr (J) (2d; wk).. - . : : . , ! 
: Paramount^'Love "Thy Neigii:^ 
bbr' (Par) (3d •wk). • 
,, Rlattd--!Lone .: Wolf Keeps ; 
.Date' .(Col)- (1). 

:BilvoW ' Victof y' (Par) : (3d 

Wk);:.:- '. ■,.■;-, ,.,..■.":.'-: 

iUxy-^Chad Hanna' « 

.'strand— 'Santa Fe Trail' (Sd ' 
yrk),' , ■'.•'.;■ , . • ' 

■'' Week'of Jah'.,.9 
. Astor— 'Great: Dictator' : (UAV ■ 
::(i3th wlc);-:^".' ■' 

Broad way-^'F£ihtasia' (Disney) 

■ (9th .wk)..: :. 

, • Capitol ^ 'Comra'de XV (M-G) " 
(3d wk).. 

Criterion— 'Texas Rangers Ride 
Again' (Par) (8). . 

Globe — 'Night train' (20th) • 
(3d wk): 

.M.u.sic. Hill^'Philadelphi . 
Story' (M-CJ).- (3d wk): ■ 

Pariinioant-^'Ldve: Thy Neigh" 
bor' (Par): (4th wk).. 
. RIalto— 'Invisible. Woman*: (U) ■ 
(9):: : • ' ■ . i; : 

' (Reviewed in Current Jssue) 
Rlyoli— 'Kitty Foyle' (RKO> 

(8).: 

- (Reviewed fn VARmY Dec. 18) 
, Koxy-^'ChadHanria' (20th) (3d 

■ -wk). .- 

, Strand— 'Four Mothers' (WB) v 

:-(io).- - : • 



'Vigilantes' (U), four days; 'Bit of 
Heaven' (U) and Gloria Jean in per- 
son, tht-ee days; $3,800, weakish. 

Loew's Palace (Loew) (2,200; 10- 
33-44 )T-'Chad Hanna' (20th). Circus 
opus i floperoo at $3,600. Last week, 
'Go West' (M-G), $4,300, fair. 

Strand (Lightman) (1,000; , 10-33- 
44)— 'Ramparts' (RKO) (2df run) and 
'Christian Meets Women' (RKO) 
three days; 'Barnyard Follies' (Rep), 
one day; and 'Blondie Cupid' (Col), 
one day. Should wind up with $1,- 
600, about as expected. Last week, 
'Dreaihing Loud'- (RKO), (2d run), 
three days; 'Doomed To Die' (Mono); 
two days; and ■'Melody Ranch' (Rep) 
three days; $1,500, not bad> 



'Santa Fe Sweet 

$8,000 in L'vifle; 

1/ 






'NUOR' $6;500 IN 
MEMPHIS;' 



Mem^hisi. peiiV-^i;. . 

■. CJhi-istmas : Week ..' ranged. ; frohri 
lousy tb lucious, with, holiday /bpen-. 
-ihgs. igerieraJljr: good. ..'Love ., Thy. 
'Neighboi-'' at the New. MialcQ- sets the 
pace; with -Thief of . iSagdadL . at 
Loew's- State-and the Warner's 'Four 
Mothers', .easing : off 'to;, .moderate 
•grosses: .■ : , • : ■ ' 

. Disappointrnent: of - the weekV. Is 
'Chad Hanna^- whigh' got bad- notices 
here,, being termed dull -'stuff.- andr did 
•a nosedive .at the box- office after : an 
encQu.raging beginning. ; : ' 

isstimates fiir !irhiis..Week 
: Loew's State (Loew ) (.2.60,0; 1.0-33- 
44)_'Bagdad' (UA), Pretty- good $5.- 
600. La.-^t. weeki- 'Little Men*; (RKO.);. 
$2.200i terrible. . . ... ■ 

: Warner. '(Warner) (2,300: 10-33-44) 
^'Four Mothers' (WB). Good $5,300. 
Xast week;. 'Red -Hair' (We), $2,200, 
n.g. . - ■ . ■ '. • 

New Maico (Lightinan) ^2,800^1D- 
33.>44)_'L^ve They Neighbor' (Par). 
Radio'"faHs ■•helping : boost the ante 
on thi]s:>"one^ -to $6,500:1. tost week 



Louisville, Dec. 31. 

Biz Is pretty evenly distributed on 
the current holiday session, 'Chad. 
Hanna' at the Rialto and 'Santa Fe 
Trail' at the Mary Anderson are 
grabbing fine coin, and -will stick 
through until New Ye?r's Eve with 
the possibility , of 'Santa Fe' stacking 
up as potent enough to carry over. 
'No No Nannette' is niaking a favor- 
able showing at the Strand, and h.o. 
of 'Tin -Pari Alley' at the Brown .is 
radiating a heaUhy b.o. complexion. 

Town nad a little fluriry in the .way 
of an usher's strike last week, but 
the fhatter .never assumed serious, 
proportions, and had no affect one 
way :©!"' the other on theaftre attehd- 
ance. . ' 

Estimates for This Week , 

■ Brown (Loew's-Fourth Avenue): 
-^•Tiri Pah Alley* (20th) arid 'Murder 
New.. ■York' (20th). Gettirig a grand 
play- on'-mpvcbver ftom .Rieilto. arid 
sticking around for- 10 -days, with; in- 
dications, for. $3,500. riide going after 
1.2rdiay run !.at. the- Rialto. to isplondid 
biz. Last. week. 'E.scape' (M-G) and 
'Won't- .Talk'- (Col), $1,JQ0 in. five, 
day.s'. . ■ . '. 

Kentucky fSwitow) (1,200; l!5,r2i;) 
•— 'Argentihe Way' -,(20th) and 'West-; 
evner' (.UA): Pacing foi" nice figure, 
with, week-end -biz calling for the 
ropes and lobby' ■ standing', room: 
Looks like rosy . $1.6(50, with inclica- 
'.tions ior. usual 'capacit.v biz-. New 
Year's . eve . arid New Year's Day; 
Last .Week: 'Ramparts- : (RKO ) .. arid: 
'Rahgers Fortune' (Par),.-, around: 
.average $1,300.: 

. r.ocw'i! ' State: (Ldcw'sV: (3.100; '15-^ 
30-4()-)'— 'Arizona' .(CbD . and 'No- 
body's . Childreri' (Col )-. .-.B-cturri's "ore 
faUcrin/!..:. :Aimin&'at 'average ;$,7.000, 
bill ishould have boon.. better.' Last 
\vrclc,.' 'Long. .'V^oyagC:' - '(.UA) . ancj 
■Girls 21' (Gol); .on five-day ruri tobk 
okay -$4.200. ' 

Mary Aiider-son .(Lib.sbh) ( 1.000; 
J5-3P-40)— 'Santa . Fe Trail' (WB): 
Pacing the ; itown, : arid even wilb 
1 imitcd ■■ capacity will , top the larger 
hou.ses. Doing abbut all- the biz po.s- 
sible tOf,, handle, Snd- will run right 
throush lhB.N6'w Year's holiday. On 

■ ' ... ■■• ■I- ; ' : ,{ r.v ': - ■ ■■ ' 



It's all Over h.o-w-r4turbulent old 
1940^7except for th.e hangovers,, the 
sleep' lost by . theatre . crews;,- the j()b, 
left- for the 'cleaners this rnornirig 
and; last-, but not least; the comjsuta-. 
tioh of figures, to see if. this. NeW 
Year's. l)eats that of a. year ago; It is- 
believed itv will; , v \ 

Large . crowds: are in. fr.bm :ouf of 
town arid the Broadway film hduse^ 
prepared for. a killing last night, with 
managers, plannirig to grind as iorig 
as there were: customers. Some ad- 
vertised they ^y6u^d keep ' running 
until dawn, others aririouhcirig 4hey 
would remain open: deep Into this 
riiprnirig-. , ' ■ . / . _ ' / ;' . 

All . -theatres ischeduled - midnight 
shows excepting .'Fantasia,' which did 
not wayer from its two performarices 
daily at a $2 top. Ariiong- the com- 
bination stands, all fiy.e. thtew in 
extra shows on their stages, . the 
Paramount and Strand at 2 a.m., the 
Music Hall, Roxy and State at mid- 
night. 

• Prices .were hoisted steeply at most 
of the: houses. The ;Hall and Capitpl 
did ript iricirease their. r^gulat:'scal6s 
but the ..Parariiount, Roxy, .Strand 
arid; Rivoli went to $1;50 for New 
Year's Eve: State! jumped to $1.25, as 
it. usually " does, while , lesser first 
runs sought' 7.5c . frpiri the holiday 
celebrants. . Jiaggling of prices,; as" iri 
the, past, was dependent, bri . -the 
Volume of the crowds . preiss.irig 
against boxofficeis. . 

All wefek since arrival: of Chrisf- 
rtiias the traffic past the; ticket- takers 
has, been unusually heavy. Because 
of the way the holidays lell this year, 
the business has been extreihely 
heavy during the day: at houses -with 
strong attractipris. In isbme instances 
they haven't been able to .liandle the 
lorig morning lines, being; forced to 
stop the sale of tickets, : ; , 

Five outstanding chaniljs are in 
the grossing arehai iri a battle-royal 
for a lot pf mbney. 'Philadelphia 
Story' at the Hall is going great guns 
for- $130,000, pierhap? a . little over, 
which, is near to the all-tinie high bf 
$134,500 scored on . a Labor. IDay week 
several years ago, Theatre's mez- 
zanine., was completely sold out lor 
New Year!s in advance:.. 

The ParaiTiount, with the strongest 
coin-getting show it has, ever had, 
wound up .its second week with 'Love 
Thy Neighbor' and Tommy Dorsey 
last night (Tues.) with $76,000, poured 
into the b.o; , This is a^ fresh high for 
the : theatre,: beating the $62,000 
scored last week pn 7% day? with 
the same bill and the: previous $59,900 
done a couple months ago by 'North 
West Mounted*, and Glen Gray, 

'Chad - : Hanna.' wh.ich opened 
Christmas Day (25) at the Roxy and 
wound up- early this morning, is the 
biggest yearrcrid holiday attraction 
for the house since 1929 at a severi 
day gross of $70,000 or above. It has 
been beaten ■ since then .only by 
'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' which 
holds the record under the ; present 
policy. 

At the Capitol another , powerful 
set of figures are being run Up :by 
'Coriirad^ X.' Also endirig its week 
on the New : -Yeat's: eve business^ it 
was expected late yesterday (Tues.) 
that a sock $55,000 would be struck. 
This picture and 'Chad Harina' begiri 
their second weeks today (Wed,). 

The other champ among the Big 
Five is the show of 'Sarita Fe' Trail'' 
and Abe Lymajn at the Strand. A 
smash $50,000 or oyer is ,<iighted on 
the current (2d) week ending to- 
morrow night (Thiirsr,), Thi,s com- 
pares with the first .stanza's $42,000; 
which included fi^e day,s ^bf -ChrLsf- 
mas shopping sPtbaeks, 'Stra'hd holds 
over; with the thii'd rourid beginriihg 
Friday. (.1), :'.- . : ;.: '; : - • ,: 

jirhref of Bacdad' ' . second-irun 
arid a -vaudeville: la,vbut. including 
Jay C. -FVippbn. Alice Mrii-ble and the 
tcairi:bf Stone arid'ColJing,- are iurn-4 
ing th:o ti-ick- at the State: . Ar:pu,nd 
$32,000, :swp)T. .is : , expected; .'to . be 
clocked' on* liic week ending, tonight 
:CWed,),.... ]\y 
'.' ■ Arnbng -1116 ; secondary .firs't-, runs, 



seven -daiys looks • 1 Ike. bumper. $ 8,00( y;- 
Last. ^wecki: 'Tugboat Anrii'e' (WB) 
on five-diiy., stanza took, fair $1.700,. - 
Rialto M-'ourth Ayeriuc): (3.400;; 15r 
36-40)-^'Ch!id Hanna' (20th) .^rid 
'Jennie'-. -(20lh.), . Lobk.s: . like, . fair 
$7:500. :Last week. 'Tin Pan Alley' 
(20.th.>' - and 'Murder , New ' York' 
.,(2Qth ). -held: for an additional -five- 
days, making: 12-day run in all,. and 
took, roundly $13,000 on the . 'engage- 
ment, and then moved to the Brown. 
/. Strand :( Fourth . Avenue) - (1,400;. 
15-,K)-4(j )^Wnctte' (RKO) arid 'Re- 
medy '. Richc.sV '.-: (RKO)., Holding 
through tod.'iy (31) -whcri new -pro- 
j duct -vviiU.' take placbr 6t this t'wbr 
Kspmb. V Indication}.' arc . for okay 
$3,.'50d. Last ' week, ■ 'Here Gomes 
Navy". fWB.r arid 'East RiveV (WB) 
(re-isisues), rounded out okay $3,000 
ori'shbrtcricd week, :''-^ 



the Globe is tearing, its Way tb « ' 
faiicy. $14,000 With 'Nigiht Train,' best . 
of the group; 'Little;^ Nellie . Kelly,': 
finishing its first Lweek last night at 
approxiiriattfly ; .$9,000, ' begiris its ■ 
secbrid tbday (Wed.). Rialto waltzes 
'Lorie Wolf Keeps Date' into house 
this morning after gettirig 'a good 
$8;0pO.:with 'Saii- Francisco Docks,' . :. 

Gobd - exploitation cafripaigns fig- ' 
ured ori; several of the cuirent ;at- 
tractioris.: . including 'Philadelphia 
Story.'.. 'Chad Hanna.' ?Cbmrade X' 
and : V Night Train,' plus .continued 
selling and [advertising pressure, on 
the Par and Strand holdovers. 

Estimates for This Week- . . 
, Astor (i.012; 75-8541.l6-$1.65^$2v2Q) 
— ^Dictator' \(UA) (12th- :,:."vveek). ■ 
Picked uji a lot . with th^. arrival of 
the holidays., the, past .six days pn . the ' 
ilth week, being $18,000. ; The -; full 
pi-ior :.we0k (10th ) -was $U.OO0. 

Broadway (1,695; 55-75-$l,10-$1.65- 
$2,20)— 'Fantasia' (Disney) (8th. 
week). Back. to'capacity with cbm«- 
in^ of Xmas. and the lise Of tickets 
that were . b(jught ;in advance: : Or- 
ders had .been received frbm yirtiii . 
ally : all ijarts of the -couhtryj appar- 
ently from " .persons planning to 
spend the holidays, in New :York.' 
Last week (7th ) was $27;500. . 

Capitol (4,520; 35-55-85-$1.10-$1.25) . 
—'Comrade X' :(iyr-G.) (2d week). 
Fpllbwing- vei-y strong initiar week ■ 
bf $55,000; -. ertdinj; : on JSTew Year's 
eve,: picture, starts of! on second to- 
day (Wed.). Last, we^k, taking 
house up to Christmas, -brought less ]. 
than $10,000, brutal, with 'Kildaie's 
Crisis! (M-G). ,. 

Criterion (1,662;: 28-44-55-65) 
'Nfellie Kelly' (M-G) .(2d Week). 
Away; on holdover today (Wed.) 
after first seven days' of arbund . 
$9,000, good. Behind that; !Hu)la- 
balob' (M-G), wilted badly, under 
$4,000. 

Globe (1,180; 28-35-55)— ^ 'Night" 
Train' (20th). , English-riiade, bought . 
for the house some tlriie ago, is gal- 
loping fuir speed fbr probable 
$14,000, immense for this iriiall- 
si^ater grind, Remains second wieelc^ . 
In ahead, 'Here Comes Navy' (WB) 
(reissub), $6,000, o.k. 

Palace (1,700; 28^35-55)— 'Letter*; 
(WB) and 'Night in Tropics' (U), 
both 2d run,.dualed. These pictures 
were brought In yesterday morning 
(Tues.), following $6,800, light, with 
•Tin Pari Alley' (,^th) ,(2d ruh) arid 
'Rbmiance Rio Grande' (20th) (1st 
ran). 'South ,Suez'. (WB) and' 'Mi-: 
Chael Shayne' (20th), both first run, 
only six days iip to Xmas, . meagr 
$5,800.: . . 

Paramount (3,664; 35-55-85-99) — 
'Love . Thy Neighbor' (Par ) and 
Tbmmy .Dbrsey (3d week). Begins 
another: week today (Wed. ) after 
finishing second at phenomenal 
$76,000, aided by $1:50 prices for 
New Year's eve, highest house has 
grossed under five years of its pit- 
hand policy. First 7 % days up to : 
Christmas equally sensational, at 
$62,000. 

Radio City Mtisic Hali (5.960; 44- 
55-85-99-$I.65) — 'Philadelphia Story* 
(M-CJ.) arid stage ; show. , Gobs ot 
money, available for this show and- 
if today (1) does not fall under 
hopeis, the gross will hit $130i000 or 
pvel-, within less thiari $5,000: of th« 
all-time high for the house. Holds 
over starting tomorrow CThurs.), 
La.st . week. 'Nanette' (RKO), with 
aid of Hall's Xmas spectacle, did 
very well,. $93,000. Spec retained for 
New Year's week as welL' 

Rialto (750; 28-44-55)— 'Lone "Woir 
(Col): Opens thi.s mbrnirig for Jan. 
1 trade: 'San Fcanci.seo Dock.s' (U) 
got $8,000, good, while behind that 
'Etlcry Queen' (Col) managed; only: 
$5,000. .. -weak. . . . -. 

RIVoll '(5,092; 35-55-75.;99)— "Vic- 
tory' (Par) (2d week).. Competition 
bomg.. keen, especially from .all the. 
.slage-shoNv hbuSes, first . week's^ bti.si- 
nesg fell under $30,000 but satisfac- 
tory. This week, bh the holdover, 
things tougher; but . posaibly ; $20,000, . 
again b.k.-. will be :sCored.: Pictur 
Sticks third week. ' .- .; ■ 

• B6>cy : (5.835; -.3!5:-55-65-75-85) 
'Chad Hanna' (20th > arid stage show. 
.A ri^jghty $70 00() Or ■ better ..rria kes 
thi,s the biggest Xrtias: br New. Year's: 
attraction to play the hou.se sirica 
1929, v/ben ; higher prices , ekisted. 
Only 'Alexander' (20th ) . has boat it 
since- then;- '.Chad' .begins its' ;,sec-. 
orid.'week.this morning ( Wed,). Last 
■ week,. 'Night .'iri- Tropics' (Uj, Oh six' 
da,vs, $16,500. bad. : ■ -. -.; 

State (3,400; : 28-44r55-75-90r$l.l()) 
•^,^agdad' (UA) <2d run ) and Jay 
C. Fllppen.' Alice Marble. Stone and 
Collins. yfHh la.st . night's- prices 
upped, .solid $32,000 is viewed. .Last' 
Week, -Christmas fri July^ (Par) ■:'2d 
run) ,,and Maxinc Siillivanv John 
Kirby; Cynda Glenn, others, $19,000, 
Ican. takihgs. but profit;. . . • • - ' ; . 
. Strarid (2.767; / 35-55-76-85-99> 
'Santa Fe'; (WB) arid Abe Lyman 
(2d week). ■ .Packing the, place, for, 
$50,000, perhaps a bit over: ttiis week 
, (2d;, near to about', all the ,^hbus(9 
can possibly do: First seven duys 
of the show $42,000,- iricludirig: five 
days: of pre-Xmas, strohg. Holds 
bver aribther leg, ^starting Friday, t3). 



10 PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, laiiuary 1, 1911 



'Neighbor Sa 'Bagdad' Good $3 jOO 



. . . MinneapoliSi^^D^ 31. . 
With the 4iOdO-seat Minheisbta the- 
atre back oii the firing line, - 1941 
gets off to a fighting, :start -in the 
loop here. Chief combatants are the 
$2,000,000 de liixer and the Orpheurn, 
■ strong name' stage ^how^ being pit- 
ted: against each' bthef: at. these 
houses. . Extra hefty, attractions also 
are bririgirJg the straight film houses 
, tip. to the front and, all in all, it's a 
lively debut ibr the newr year.; . 

As usual, all. the theatres are hav- 
ing: special midnight shows tonight. 
The switch to .Tiiesdiay openings, Oc- 
casioned • by . the mid-week . ehrist-. 
imas, still, is in operation this week. 
. Th6 Minnesota stsge line-up ■ in- 
cludes Ken Murray, Dixie Dtihbar 
and. Ruth Petty. .^The;, OrpheUm 
counters with Gertrude Niesen, Ada. 
Leonard, Frank Gaby, et .al. The op- 
positibn. films in this instance are 
the Orpheum's .'Go West' and the 
Minnesota's 'Hit Parade -of 1941;'.. : 
Most importa'nt and consequential 
of the straight film offenngs is 
•Comrade X.' There are two nold- 
bverij— 'Love "Thy Neighbor,' which 
met with:a fine reception at the Stat^ 
and has moved over to the Century, 
and, 'Thief of Bagdad,' jemainihg ait 
the World. ; ; ■ 

■ : Est.iiiiateBV for ThU Week ; 
Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 15-28)-^ 
' 'Dreaming Loud' (RKO ) and 'Give 
Us Wings' (U). Good $1,800 for six 
days. Last week. 'Won't Talk^ (Col.) 
and . 'Always Bride' ( WB ), $800. 
'Fugitive J ustice' ( WB > and 'Hulla- 
baloo' <M-G). bp6n today. (31). v , 
Century (Par-Singer) (ljG06: 28- 
44)^'Lett.er' (WB) : (2d . wk— on 
moveover). Much praise for. this 
one and second week was Relatively 
better than; the first. . May reach, 
pretty, fair $Zl50b. Last week, 'Es-. 
cape' (M-:G) (2cl wk). light $1,800 
in five days: 'Love Thy Neighbor' 
CPar) moves over today (31) .from 
State for second week. 1 . 

.Esquire (Berger) (290; 15-20)— 
'Mutiny Bounty (M-Ci) (re-issue); 
House playing nothing but .re-issues 
now. May reach fair $800. La$t 
week, fSlave Ship' (20th) (re-issue), 
$700, bkay. 

Gopher (Par-Singer) (998; 28)— 
•Nellie Kelly' (M-G). Didn't aatch 
on so well.. Fair $2,000 in prospect. 
Last week, 'Angels Broadway' (Col), 
fair $1,500 in six days. 

Minnesota (Middle States) (4,000; 
28-39)— 'Hit Parade' (Rep) , with Ken 
Murray unit, Dixie Dunbar and 
Ruth Pifetty on stage. House reopens 
tonight (31) ^^^^th special prices, 44 
and .55c, for New Year's eve only. 
Heavy airray of stage talent. 

Orptaeiim (Par-Singer ). (2,800; 28- 
39-44 )— 'Sbuth Suez' (WB) and Gene 
Krupa, .et al, on stage. Band and 
stage show pulling !em ih; and ex- 
citing raves. First trip here for 
Krupa, and they like him. Will fin- 
ish to big $15,000, despite dayrbe- 
f ore-Christmas opening disadvan- 
tage. Last week, 'Zorro' (20th) (2d 
wk), mild $1,600 in four days, 'Go 
West'. .(M-G) and Gertrude Nieseri, 
AdavLebrtard, etc., on stage, start to- 
day (31). . 

State (Par-Singer) < (2,300; 28-39- 
44)'-^'Loye Thy Neighbor' (Par). 
Customers like this one and it will 
do well enough . to justify its trans- 
fer tb the Century for a second week. 
Good $8,000 in prospect. 'Comrade 
X' (M-G) opens today /31). Last 
week, 'Letter' (WB), $3,600 in. five 
days, tnild. 

•^Uptown (Par) (1,200; 28-39)— 
rrhird Finger' . (M-G). First neigh-, 
borhood showing. Hitting good 
$2,500 Last week> 'City Conqulsf 
( WB ), firsl .neighborhobd showing. 
$1,500, light. 'Northwest Mounted. 
(Par) starts: today. 

Worl4 (Par-Singer-Steffes) (350; 
28-39-44-55)— 'Bagdad' (UA). : Wili 
hold over- , with gobd $3,500 Indi- 
cated. Last week, 'Walt Disney Fes- 
tival' (RKO) (2d wk), ;$900 foi^ five 
days, mild. 



them in tb the tunie bfa'swell .$14;000, 
Denver (Fbic ) 12,525; 25-35-40)-^ 
'Bagdad (UA), Strong $12,000. Last 
week, 'Hired Wife' ;(U) . and- 'Ellery. 
Queen' (Cbl), fair $6,500.- - : 

Orpbeum (RKO). (2,600; .25r35-40) 
-^'Narifette* (RKO ) and : 'Hullabaloo' 
(M-G ). N.s.h. $7^000, Last ; week, 
'Women* (M-G> and 'Babies in Arms' 
(M-G), brought back' for. .five days; 
pobr $4,000. : v -r - : ; 
: Paranlount (Fox) (2.200; 25-40)— 
'Vigilantes' (U> and ♦Where. Gel Girl! 
(U). Nice $5,000; Last week, 'Give 
Us Wings' (U.) and 'Lone Wolf Date' 
(Col), fair $3,500. j- 

jUalto (Fox) (878; .25-40)— 'Seven 
Sinners' (U ) and .. 'Next Time Love' 
(U), after a wtiefc at each the Denver 
and Aladdin. Fair $1,800., Last week, 
'Letter* (WB), after a week at each 
the Denver and Aladdin, and 'Girls 
21* (Col), ditto. 



TINDOUT- 





'BAGDAD' J2G, DENVER 

•Neigiibor' ; 2d Poor $4,000— ' Vlgl- 
_ .lantes' Okay $5,00(1 

. . Denver, Dec. 31. 

. , Best Exploltatton: Denkam- ' 

_President Roosevelt's talk Sunday 
night temporarily put k crimp into 
business,, biit the theatres got it 
afterward. ^Thief of Bagdad* has the 
tbwn 5. leading gross with $12,000, 

The Deriham grabbed a sheaf of 
publicity by tying up the opening 
Jiight show with the Denver Post 
Christmas party for poof . (children; 
Estimates for This Wekk 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 25-40)— 
•Hired Wife*. (U) arid 'Ellery Queen' 
(Col), after a -week at the Denver". 
Nidi $.4.()0.0. Last week; 'Seven Sin- 
ners* (U.) and *Next Time Lbve* (U), 
after a week at the Denver, fair 
$3,000. 

, , Broadway (Fox) (1,040; 25-35-40) 
-^'Go West' (M-G) and 'Gallant 
Sons' (M-G) (2d Wk). after a week at 
.the Orpheurn. Fair $2,5()0. Last week, 
same pair; ditto. 

benham (Cockrill) (1,750; 25-35r 
.40)— 'Lbve Thy Neighbor* (Par). 
Second week looks like poor $4,000. 
i Last -week: Benny-Allen film packed 



Detroit, Dec. 81. 
Even without the added boost 
three of this town's first-runs will 
get with vaudeville on New Year's 
EvCj biz in Detroit is -running 
strong, in some quarters It is be- 
lieved that the heavy#war orders are 
making themselves . felt finally, if 
only in the lavish bonuses hundreds 
of companies handed out here. - 
• Whatever . it is, Detroit came 
through a-Christmas sealson the best 
in a decade and indications are that 
lousiness is going to continue h^&vy. 
After, splitting up; Weeks to provide 
new sttiff for the' mid-week holiday; 
the - Michigan, Palms-State and Fox 
all have stajge attractions for their 
special midnight show on New Year's 
Eve for which the prices slidie up 
from the usual 65c to $1.65 down- 
stairs arid $1.10 in the halcohy.: 

Michigan and Palms-State are try- 
ing something new by bicycling the 
same show, headed by' Rosemary 
Lane,.Foiur Ink Sipbts and Dean Mur- 
phy with 'Second Chorus* oh screen, 
between • the tw.o ■ houses^ The bill 
opens at Michigan fbr nirie days with 
the midnight start, but for the iiext 
nine days PfClms takes tover the 
Michigan's current 'Love Thy Neigh 
bor* and 'Kit Carson.' 

Fox started- off its stage show, 
'Truth bf Cbnsequence,' bn Christ- 
mas and .winds It up with the rtiidr 
nignt show, following it with 'Hudf 
son Bay' and 'Lone Wolf Keeps Date* 
for nine days to bring it around to 
the normal Friday opening^. . Adams, 
which usually is a take-over hbuse, 
initialed 'Thief bf Bagdad* on Christ- 
mas and. carries on while the United 
Artists Continues strong with 'Long 
Voyage' and 'Comrade X* in a sec 
ond week. 

Estimates, for This Week 
Adams (Balaban). (1,700; 30-40- 
55) ($1.10 New- Year's) 'Bagdad* 
(UA) and 'Sandy Man' (U). With a 
nice start this looks for slick $8,000: 
Last week, 'Tin Pan Alley* (20th) 
(5th wk) and 'Give Us Wings' (U), 
five days, and 'Bagdad' (UA)* two 
days, good $6,500. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (51000; 30-40- 
55) ($1.10, $1.65 New Year's)— 'You'll 
Find Out' (RKO) and 'Truth or Con- 
sequences' on ' stage, five: days^ and 
. 'Hudson Bay* (20th ) and 'Lone Wolf 
(Col), twb days. Big $28,000, count- 
ing better than $6,000 lor niidnight, 
Last week, 'Escape Glbry*' (Col), arid 
'Night Trbpics*. (U),. five days, and 
'You'll Find - Out* and stage show, 
two days, choice $17,500. 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4.000; 
30-40-55) ($1.10. $1,65 New Year's)— 
'Love Thy Neighbor' (Par) arid .'Kit 
Carson* (UA), five days; and 'Secorid 
Chorus* (Par) plus Rosemary Lane 
and Ink Spots on : stage, two days. 
Big $25,000, cbunting $5,000 for midr 
night.. Last week, 'Letter' (WB) and 
'Captain Cautious' (UA), five days, 
and '.Love Neighbbr* and 'Kit Car- 
son;' two days, okay $15,000. \ - 

Palms-State (United Detroit) (3,- 
000; 30-40r55) ($1.10. $1.65 . New 
Yeiar's)— 'Letter' (WB) and 'Chero- 
kee Strip' . (Par), five days, former 
on moveover from the Michigan and 
'Love: Thy Neighbor' (Par) and 'Kit 
Carson* (UA ), - twb . days, also on 
moveover.; Gbod $9,000. Last week: 
'North West Mounted* (Par) and 
'Eiarl Carroll's' (Par) (5th wk), five 
days, and 'Letter' (WB ), and 'Chero- 
kee* (Par), two days, fair $6,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000;. 30-40-50) ($1.10 New Year's) 
-^'Long Vbyage* (UA) and 'Comrade 
X' (M-G) (2d wk). Looking for a 
fchbite . $10,000 to . put behind last- 
week's big $14,()00. .For midnight 
show, house will bring In 'Flight 
Command' v. (M-G) . and- : 'Keeping 
Company' • (M-G) . in advance of 
opening. . 



'Tropics'-Callpway 

Slick IS^^G, Omaha 

Omaha, Dec: 31. 
Even with Nebraska playing Stan- 
ford in the Rose Bowl and every 
Ohahari's. ear glu6d to .a loudspeaker 
New Year's day, the theatre take 
in Omaha for the holiday week will 
be very 'much up. For Cab .Calloway 
plus 'One Night in the . Tropics' at 
the Orpheurn, the gross, is' going tb 
be better than $18,500 because of the 
siellout midnight New Year's «ve 
show at $1. The Brandeis, too, is 
up with 'Nanette' arid 'Ellery Queen' 
going toward $7,000. .. The Omaha 
With Nebraska's Robert . Taylor in 
'Flight Command' and -'Christmas in 
July' will touch a Tittle better than 
$8,000, • 

Estimates ;for This Week 
Orpheuni (Tristates) (3,000;: 15-40- 
55)— 'Night Tropics* (U) and Cab 
Calloway arid Cotton Club revue on 
stage. Good' $18;500. Last Week, 
(10-30.40) 'Nellie Kelly* (M-G) and 
'Sandy Man': (U), rather light $7,500. 

Brandeis (Mort Singer) (1,500; 10- 
25-35-40)— 'Nanette* (RKO) arid 'BU- 
lery Queen' . <Col). Good $7,000. 
Last week, 'Here Comes Navy* (WB 
re-issue) . arid 'Wbri't Talk* ;(Col)i 
light 1»,()00i_ 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,000; 10-30r 
40)— 'flight Command* (M-G) and 
'Christmas July' (Par). Good $8,- 
000. Last week, 'lionesome Pine' 
(Par. re-issue) and 'Thanks Memory' 
(Par re-issue),' fair $6,500. .' 

State (Goldberg) (900; 10-20-25)t-. 
'Spring Parade' (U) and 'Aunt Mag- 
gie* CRep), split with 'Seven Sinners' 
(U) and 'Third Finger* . (M-G). Fair 
look). Last weiek, 'Angels Broadway' 
(Col) land 'Blondie Trouble' (CoD, 
split with 'StriCe Up Band' (M-G) 
and 'River's End* (WB), light $700. - 
Town (Goldberg) (1,500; 10-20-25) 
—'Cowboy Joe* (U), 'Friendly 
Neighbors' (Rep) arid 'Fugitive' (U),- 
triple, split; with 'Beyond Sacra- 
mento* • (Col), 'Symphony Living': 
(Cap), and 'Women Hiding' (MrG), 
'West Abiene* (Col). Okay $800. 
Last week, 'Frontier Vengeance' 
(Rep ), 'What They Warited' (RKO ) 
and 'Moriey Women* (WB), triple, 
split with 'Prairie Schooner,' (Col), 
'Can't Escape* (Cap), and 'Wagon 
Train* (RKO), 'Nurse Cavell' (RKO), 
light $600.: 

Avenue - Military - Dundee (Gbld- 
berg ) . (960; 10-2Q-25 ) — 'Spring 
Parade' (U), :and 'Aunt Maggie' 
(Rep), split with 'Seven Sinners' (U) 
and 'Third Finger' (M-G). Fair $1,^ 
200. . Last week, 'Angels Broadway' 
(Cbl) and 'Blondie Trouble' (Col), 
split with 'River's End' (WB) and 
'Strike Up Band* (M-G), light $1,000. 

'Dkk'- W Unit 
Ck?e. Pkks Up 




.Cleveland, bee. 81. 

Climbirig up oft the floor, after 
some took nirie-courit haymaker 
from Santa Claus, Cleveland's, key 
houses are catching their second 
wind and making up for lost points 
this stanza. Main bout is going in 
favor of 'Revue Internationale,* new 
unit show -with 5l in cast, produced 
by Palace. With 'Bank Dick* in its 
screen cornier, it's slugging away for 
a smash $22,000 that will be one of 
the season's best purses. 

Four stands also trying to boost 
their luck for new year by bringing 
in new bills today (31). 'Love Thy 
Neighbor* after a good week at State 
to riiove to Stillman, being replaced 
at former spot by .'Comrade X.' -Hipp 
being kept in a terrific state bf jitters 
by 'Santa Fe Trail,' which hovered 
arburid the okay mark, leavirig it unr 
decided whether it would push in 
'Kitty Foyle* for New Year's Eve or 
riot Mix-up also affected Allen, 
skedded .to get - 'Saritit Fe* shiftover 
after a special bne-rilght ; vaudeifllm 
bill :pn big. riight of year. 

Experiment bf installing vaude at 
Keith's 105th after seven vaudless 
years, with Milt Britton's 'Crazy 
Show' and 'Charter Pilot,* as startier, 
being closely clocked by RKO exiecs 
who plan to bbok in occasional stage 
shows if it tlicks. .. ': 

. . Estimates for "This Week . • 

Allen (RKO) f3,000: 30-35-42-55)— 
'Find Out' (RKO). Moveover thin 
$2,000, to be followed today (31) by 
.'Michael Shane, Private Dick' and 
vaude for one^night, and then 'Santa 
Fe, Trail' (WB) bn a shiftbVer. Last 
week. !Ti'n Pan Alley' (20th) (2d wk ), 
$3.500,.average, 

Hipp (Warner) (3.'7d'0: 30-35-42-55) 
—•Santa Fe Trail' (WB), Slow 
builder and not nibre than $12,000, 
which will be . satisfactory. 'Kitty 
Foyle' (RKO) tentatively, slated to 
open today (31); Last week, 'You'll 
Find Out* (RKO0. .«:500,: brutal. . .: 

Keltb*s lOSih (RKO) (2.950; 15-28- 
47)— 'Charter Pilot'. (SOth) and Milt 
Brittbn's stage unit Comeback of 
vaudie at this nabe deluxet spurting 
biz way Up; may Wnd fine $8,000. or 
over. Crowds being polled in lobby 
for vbtes on' whether - they, want 



'Find Out'-Clinton Forte 




vaude to ' check reactions for future 
policy. " ■■■i.';- • ■— . 

Palaoe (RKO) (3.200; 30-35-42^55- 
60)— 'Bank Dick' (U) plus 'Revue 
Internationale* on stage. Locally pro- 
duced unit running away with raves 
arid sbcko biz from start; no doubt 
of reaching excellent $22,000 and go- 
ing- on tour of RKO circuit. Last 
week, 'Christmas • July' (Par) arid 
vaude; only $8,000, .poorest' since 
summer. ' 

Stato (LoeW's) (3.450: 30^35r42-55 ) 
^'Love Neighbor' (Par>.~ :Extra nice 
$14,000. 'Comrade X' (MrG ) pushing 
it aside today (31). LasiAveek, 'Long 
Voyage* (UA), mild $8,500 in five 
days. -'■ 

Stiilnuui (Loew*s) (1,072; 30-35-42- 
55)— ftangers Fortune* (Par). De- 
veloped spavin^ at $3,500, weak for 
: first-runner. . 'Love : Thy Neighbor* 
(Par) being mbved in today (31). 
Last week, 'North West . Mounted' 
(Par), . stronger $3,500 on third week. 




. Boston- Dec. 31." 

'Loye Thy Neighbor* -at the Metrb- 
pbliten, and .'Thief of Bagdad' .at the 
OrpheUm and State are the tbp films 
this week, with 'No, No Nariette' also 
in the money. ; 

George Raft,, in a personal appear- 
ance at the RKO Boston Js doing big 
biz arid will hold over through New 
Year's Day. He will silsb play a mid- 
night show tonight (31) at $1.65 top. 

: Estimates (or This Week : 

Boston (RKO) (3,200; 33-44-55-65 ) 
^'Where Get Girl?' (U) with George 
Raft and vaude bill on stage. Will 
garner very gobd $23,000, not in- 
cluding midnight show; Last week, 
'Devil Bat' (Prod) and 'First Ro- 
riiance* (Mono), with stage show, 
four ..days, and 'Street Scerie* (UA) 
and 'In Arhiy Now' (20th) (both re- 
issues), two days, $5,000. so-so. . 

Fenway (M&P) (1,332; 28-39-44-55) 
—'Tin Pan Alley' <20th) and 'Mrirder 
Nevii York* (20th) (both cbntiriued 
run froni two. w.eeks at Met). "Will 
hit around $8,000, including 'Second 
Chbrus' (Par) and 'Shayne Detective' 
(20th), midni.ght show only, at $1.10. 
Last week, 'Here Comes Navy' (WB) 
(re-issue) ' and 'Melody Mbonlight' 
(Rep). $3,300. 

KeVJi Memorial (RKO) (2.907; 28- 
39-44-55)— 'Nanette* (RKO) and 'Ro- 
mance Rio Graride' (20th). Arourid 
$18,000, gbod. Opening today (31 ) is 
'Kitty Foyle*. (RKO) which plays 
through midnight show . at 75c 
admish. Last, week, J'Vigilarites' (U) 
and 'Dreaming Loud' (RKO),.. six 
dciV^ $7 500 

Metropolitan (M&P.) (4.367; 23-39- 
44-55 )^'Lbve Thy Neighbor' (Par) 
and 'Red Hair' (WB). Will hit around 
$27,000, socko, including midnight 
show of 'Secbnd Chorus* (Pal-) and 
'Shayne Detective' (20th), at $1.10 all 
over house. Last . -Week, 'Tin Pan 
Alley' (20th) and 'Murder New York' 
(20th), holdover lor six days, fair 
$9,000. 

Orpheurn (Loew) (2,900; 28-39-44- 
55 )— 'Bagdad* (UA ) : arid 'Blondie 
Cupid' (Col). Aiming at hefty $19,500. 
New show. 'Comrade X^ (M-G) and 
'Gallant Sons' (M-G) opens today 
(31) and plays continuously through 
midnight at 55c. Last week, 'Nellie 
Kelly* (M-G) and . 'Escape Gloiy' 
(CoDj! holdover for five days, very 
good $11,300. 

Paramount (M&P) (1,'797: 28-39- 
44-55 )— Tiri Pan Alley' (20th ) and 
'Murder . New York* (20th).. Both 
continued run fi:om -two weeks .at 
Met,^ Will take ;afound: $8i500 In- 
cluding riiidnight show, at $1.10, of 
'Second Chords' (PSt)- and /Shayne 
Detective* (20th), Last week, 'Here 
Comes Navy' (WB) (re^issue) and 
'Melody Mobnlieht' (Rep). $5,000, sad. 

. Scdllay (M&P*) (2,538; 28-39-44-50) 
--'North . West Mounted* (Par) arid 
'Youth Sierved* (20th) (both 2d run). 
Okay $5,000; Last week, 'You'll Find 
Out* (RKO) and 'South Suez' (WB) 
(both 2d run). $3,000, 

State (Loew) (3.600: 28-39-44-55)— 
'Bagdad' (UA). and 'Blondie Cuoid* 
(Col). Heading for big $17,500. 
'Comrade X' (M-G).. and 'Gallant 
Son."!' (M-G ) bjieri today (31). Last 
week. 'Nellie Kelly' (M-G) and 
'Escape (Slory* (Col), five days, $8,000. 

Teamed in Triplicate 

Hollywood, Dec. 31. . 
'■■ .For the third time Joan Leslie and 
Eddie .Albert are teamed as a roinari- 
tic dub iri !30 Days; Hath September* 
at .Warne'i-s.* '. . j -. 

, Ray -Brivight direct*.- • ■ ' i , . 

•. .•J:.>.-1S- i- r i.? )>> •■■ 



. Philadelphia, Dec. 31. 

With special niidnight .<;hows 
skedded tonight (New Yearns eve) at 
all downtown deluxers and bullish - 
biz expected from all advance in- 
dications, gtosses for this sesh look 
set fbr flying starts , into 1941. " 
■ "Ihe Presiident's 'fireside chatV Sun 
day , night didri^t . h.urt too much, 
bepause.' yirtually every house had 
piped in ;the broadcast through 
special tieup with WCAU. 

Although the. world preeming of 
'Kitty F'oyle' at the Boyd lacked the 
trimmings of other Hollywood un* 
veilings, the filriiization of Christo* 
pher , Morley's best; seller about a 
Philly gal Is a't^acting:.p)en of. 
shekels. Initial canto lo.bks headed 
fbr a sock $26,000, 

Also In the heavy lucre class are 
the Earle*s vaudfllm combo bill, 
'Thief of Bagdad.' at: the Aldine, and 
'North West i^purit^d Police,* at the 
Stanley— lioth the latter • being hold*; 
overs. ;' ^ •- - ". '. . \ 

. . Estimates, for This Week 

Aldine (W^B) (1,303; .'55-46-57-68)-;. 
.'Bagdad' (UA) '(2d.wk). Nbi weak, 
ening any on second round, copping 
a neat $1.3,500; Opening week was 
$14,000. 'Son of Monte Cristo' (UA) 
opens Thursday- (2). 

Arcadia: (Sablosky) (600; 35-46-57) '. 
—'Nellie Kelly" . (MrG) (2d run). 
Jiist abbut scraping par with $3,200. 
Last week, 'Arizona' (Col), fair 
$2(600. fbr six days of. second run 
showing. 

Boyd (WB) (2,560; 35-46-57-68)— 
'Kitty Foyle' (RKO). World pre- 
miere plus all advance ballyhoo is 
hiking the take to super-special $26.- 
000. Last week, 'Second Chorus' 
(Par) strictly minor league fare, 
with a punk $8,300. . 

. Earle (WB) (2.758; : 35-46-57>68-75 ) 
— 'Youni Find Out' (RKO) with 
-Larry Clinton orchestra on stage. 
Though not in the same class of the 
grosses set up in the salad days of 
band attractions, this combo, how- 
ever, will bring in . a profitable $23> 
700. Last week, 'Earl Carroll's* 
(Par) with stage .show including 
Clyde McCoy's band and the Three 
Stboges, netted a fairish $19,200. 

Fox (WB) : (2.423; ; 35^46-57-68)— 
.'Four Mothers' (WB) (2d wk). Sat- 
isfactory $12,000.: Bow-in okay $15.- 
200. .'Santa Fe; Trail* (WB) unveiled 
today (Tues.) for the holiday trade. 

karUon (WB) . (1,066; 35-46-57-68) 
—'Nanette* (RKO) (2d run). Second 
week good . $4,100. Last week, split 
between 'Letter* (WB) (2d rim) and 
•Nanette* (RKO) (2d run ). sad $3,300. 

Keith's (WB) (1,970; 35-46-57-68) 
—'Go West* (M-G) (2d run). Okay 
$3,900. Last ' week, spl i t between: 
'Tin Pan Alley' (20th) (2d run) and 
three days of 'Go West' (M-G) . (2d 
run), mediocre $3,700. 

Stanley (WB) (2,916; 35-46-57-68) 
—'North West Mounted' (Par) (2d . 
wk). Still galloping along at fast 
dip with ' zingy $16i000. Opening 
sesh great $21,000. Will be followed 
by 'Comrade X' (M-G). 

' Stanton (WB) (1.457; 35-46-57)— 
■'Kildare's Crisis' (M-G ). Still at- 
tracting enough customers for an 
okay $4,600. Last week, 'Gallant 
Sons' (M-G) was pulled in six days 
with sad $3,100. . 

'lilEIGHBGR^G, B'KLYN 

'Bagdad* Nice $20,000— Holiday Coin 
■ Plentiful 



Brooklyn, Dec 81. 
• Booming biz at. all downtown 
houses in City of Churches. Kids but 
of school and oldet folks celebrating 
holidays with sprees in the deluxers. 
Top attention getter is Fabian; Para- 
mount with 'Love Thy Neighbor' and 
'South of Sue;?* in second week. 
Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3.274: 25-35-50)— 
.'Nanette* (RKO) and 'Shayne Detec- 
tive' i(20th). Opened yesterday :(30). 
Last week, 'Night Tropics' (U) and 
iVigilantes* (U>. quiet $14,000. . .' 

;Fox -(jfabian) (4.089; 25-35-50)— 
'Sante Fe Trail* (Wb) and 'Always 
Bride* (WB). Opens today (31). Last 
week, 'Burma Road* (Par) arid ?Lady. 
Question* -(Cbl), good $16.000., . 

Met (Loew's ) (3.618; - 25-35.-50 )-r 
'Third Firiger' (M-G ) and 'Kit Carr 
son' (UA);:. Opens today. Last week, 
'Bagdad* (UA) -and 'Dulcy' (M-G), 
nifty $20,000. ' 

Paramount (Fabian) : (4,1 26; 25-33- 
50)— 'Love Thy Neighbor* (Par) and . 
'South Suez' (WB)'. Goes in second 
week, today. Last week .combo dreW . 
magnificent $30,000. 
. Strand (WB) (2.870; .25-35-50)-' 
.'Gang of :Mine? (Mono) and . stng^ 
show with George White's 'ScandaK 
Ben Blue, Mildred Fbnton. etc. Will 
get good $15,000. 'I Met Murderer 
(Classic) arid .'Devil's Pipeline' (UJ 
arrive Thursday,, (;2). 



PICTURE GROSSES 11 





: San JFraiicisco, Dec. 31- 
:Bi« generally , gpod this 'Wieek, 
picking ,up' Christmas Day despite^ 
heavy rain; particularly at thi: 
Golden Gat^, with 'No, No, mnette' 
«n screen and Naiicy {Welford; on 
irtage, and at iM United /Artists, 
where they had -em standing In; the 
win lor ¥hie£ of Bagdad/ 'Arizona' 
also proving ai. strong magnet at the 
Orpheiim,- • • , ■ : 

Esiimatei for TWb Week 
ITojt i(F-WC) (MOO; 35^40-50)— 
•Santa Fe Trail' (WS). ^ Optmng 
■liitted to Tuesday to Jake fdyan- 
taae of New Year's Eve, ionight 
m) ; Last, cweek* 10-day run of 
Tlight Commahd*^ (M7G) . and .?Gal- 
knt Sons' (M-G). got aroiihd $22,000. 

■ Goldeii Gate; (RKa>. (2,850; 39-44- 
65)-^'N3ttette' (RKO). and Nancy, 
Welford oh stage; , A»ded bv one. of 
the best Christmas openings in town, 
rolUnsj up a. fine $16,000. Last week, 
•San Francisco Docks' (U) faded to 

■ brutal $9,000. 

■ Or^lVeum (F&M) . (2,440; ,35-40^^^ 
—.'Arir.dna' . (Col) .and.. . 'Nobody's; 
Sweethcaft' (U) . (2d wk),- . With 

'around $12,000 in sight,- this gives 
thti hbusa unique possibility of doing 
almost equal ;the .first week's okay 

. ^^PaJLouht ' (F-WC) (2.740; h-iO- 
BO )— 'Lbve : , Thy Neighbor'- (Par ). 
and 'Miirder Over New .York (20th). 
Another shift here, gives this house 
a Tuesday opening, the Benny- Allen 
film and another bowing in . today 
(31), Last; week, 10-day. run of 'Sec- 
ond . ChoiW- (Par) and ; 'Melody 
Ranch' (Rep) garnered $15,500., ; 

Si. Francis (F-WC) (1,476;; 35.-40- 
60)— 'Flight Command' iMrG) and 
^Gallant S6ns' (M..G). Tentatively 
schieduled as a itioveOver from the 
. Fox, to open today. Last week's 10- 
day moveover of 'Go West' (M-G) 
and 'Christmas.July' (Par) finished' 
with about $9,000. ; . 

United Artists (Cohen) (1^200: 30- 
40-50)— 'Bagdad' (UA)i With $2,500 
In the till Christmas Day to send 
this on its way, will hit a big $12,000. 
Last (2d-flna'l) week, 'Kit Carson' 
(UA) died a miserable death at un- 
der $5,000.- 

Warfleld (FrWC) (2,680; 35-40-50) 
^'Hudson's Bay' i20th) and 'Michael 
Shayne' (20th). Another shift for 
purposes of a New Year's: Eve open- 
;Thg brings this pair in today (31). 
Last week, 'Chan Hanna' (20th). and 
^outh Served' (20th), picked up 
good $14,500 in, 10 days. 



Estimated TbUt Gross ' 
This : Week , . ;.. . > . , . $i;g7i5,7ffO 

. (Boscd on 22 . cities, 151 tfica- 
tre»( iefiicfly /trst run?, fricrudino 

:;N;.Y;);; .;.-v ; -. • ■ 

Total Grosa Same Week - 
Last Yeiir.. , . ; .... i. $1,581,006 

; (Baseji Qn 23 .citics,\l5& tfteotrcs). 





Sin 




. . Kansas City, bee. 31. 
. Holidays having their effects on 
. theatres.' with schedule of opening 
days still awry. Marquees are much 
better, if not big boxoffice, in every 
spot. Heavy pliy of the week is 
spilt between the Newman with 
'Love Thy Neighbor* and the Mid- 
land with "Thief of Bagdad.' Benny- 
AUen opus is a heavy magnet and 
"certain of ari extended riin,- while 
Thief is giving the Midland .one of 
Its better weeks: . 

Im a lighter vein 'No, No, Nanette* 
and 'Hudson's Bay* at the Orpheum 
and Esquire-Uptown; respectively, 
are getting a share of the holiday 
trade, ?but not settinft any records. 
, Both, moved • out today (31 ) and were 
replaced by :.^Kitty Foyle' in the 
RKO spot arid ;*Chad Hanna* in the 
Fpx Midwest pain Midland also 
- changed today . with -Comrade X' as 
. thfe main attraction. As always, the 

. Tower . keeps -its regular Friday 
change. - .: - " ■;, 

.All spots : after the New. "Jfear's. 
Eve business With special' showirigs 
. of .their regular features: ' ' . ' :^ 

Estiihates for This Week . 
: 'Esquire : and -iJptown , (Fd:C Mid- 
.west),.. :(820 arid, 2,043; 10^23:44)— 
, 'Hadson's „ Bay* , (20th), , Clbses" a 
Week's run today' (Tuesday), wind-- 
pg up with better than avisrage, 

; .$6,000, combo; : Last ^ week, ' .'Hit 
;Parade' (Rep) had a slow six -days 
at $4,()00. ''(jhad Hanna' (20th) opens 
; in. both sppts todays 

Midland (Loew's) (4,101; 10r28-44) 
r-*Bagdad* (lyA) and- 'Plane Hob-' 
hery- (Col), Closed Monday ,night 
(30)' after, a: fine, week at. $11,000.' 

., ^st week, 'Escape Glory' (UA) and 
.Kildare's Crisis' (M-G) twinned for 

,,,. a five-day flll-in,' tardy $5.000., 'Com- 
rade X':;,(M-G) arid 'Ellery 0ueen' 
.CGol) open today : (31); , 
,„;Newnian ; (Paramount) (1,900; lOr 

. ..28.-«)^'Love thy Neighbor* (Par): 
.Friday ^opening. Playing to strong, 
'fade ,and good for an extended run 
after $10,000, best tif weeks. Last 
jveek. 'Christnias July' (Par), with; 
eab Calloway and band on stage for 
,.;four days, rani up a neat $7,000 at 

55c top. ; . 
.... Orphenm (RKO) (iiSOd; 10-28-44) 
-^NanettiB' (RKO) .arid 'SouUi Suez' 
^ WB , Getting a goodly share . of 



:;; V Pittshurgh, ■ Dec/ 31. : ' ' 

.Betweeri-holiday biz pretty good 
hei^e hut; not outstanding, Iri fact, 
nothing's making, an unusual showr 
ing although; everybody's getting by 
with room to spare. In most Cases, 
new attractions are opening; tonight 
(31) with midnight shows and will 
run for lO- days, getting majority ;pf 
houses back ori; their regular- Friday 
opening Jan. 16. \: . 

,' 'Love Thy Neighbor' is making :the 
best showing at the. Penn, but isn^t 
.coming close ; to. biz Alleh-Benriy 
feiider is doing; elsewhere, while 
'Sante Fe. Trail's*; flive-day h.o. at 
Stanley is entirely satisfactory 
'Arizona* something of a disappoirit- 
ment at Senator, yet sticks for s.iBC- 
ond ' week, while 'Bank Dick' got 
along all right , at Fulton biit not 
enough to warrant a New Year's 
week try arid comes out for 'Hudsbn's 
Bay.' At Ritz, 'Northwest Mounted 
Police* in flfthv downtown Week do- 
ing sensationally, and 'Xmas in July' 
and 'Here Comes' Navy* re-issue , best 
twinrier Warner has had in months. 
Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) . (I,l60; 25-40)-t- 
'Bank Dick' (U). Raves for W, C 
Fields cohiedy and press kept plug- 
>ging him right through the riin, but 
biz lopped off over: the weekend and 
management decided riot td chance 
h;o. As result, 'Hudson's Bay' (20th) 
opened this evening (31) at 6 o'cldek. 
In . six and one-half . days, ,'Dick' 
grabbed around $4,600, fair. Last 
week, 'Blackout' (UA), big disap 
pointment at $2,700. 

Penri (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 25-35- 
50)— -Love Thy Neighbor' :(Par>.; Do- 
ing the biz of town for the holiday 
isession, but iat $14,000 still nothing 
to get very excited about. Moves 
to Ritz for second week. Last week, 
'Long Voyage' (UA), in five days a 
complete wash-out at $2,600, ;. 
. Kitz (WB), (800; 30'40-60)-^'NOrth 
west Mounted' (Par). Fifth down 
town week,; arid has. plenty of stuff 
left. Could stick indefinitely, but 
must move but lor nabes arid also 
to clear; decks of accumulated prod- 
uct. Will get $4,500 here, which is 
great. Last week, 'Nellie Kelly'; 
(MrG), on moveover from Penn, all 
right at $2,600 in five , days. 

Senator (Harris) (1.760; 25-35-50) 
— 'Arizoriai' (Col). Including New 
Year's eve rriidnight; show, won't do 
much more than $7,200, ri.s.h. . for 
extensively-plugged and :e.xpensive 
filfn. Last ,weelf, 'Tin ; Pan Alley' 
(20th) wound up ruri with nice pre- 
•iCrii'as $3,200- for fourth .week. 
.; Stanley f WB) (3;C00; 25-35^50)— 
'Santa Fe; "Trail' (WB), Getting fi.vc 
days in second- week and should col-; 
Ject around ,, $9,500 in abbreviated 
.session; . Not bad. sind moves W the 
,'Warner for another --week, .possibly 
10 days.- Last , wpek, 'Trail', icll pfT 
near' end but ;stiir' struck /gold ^at. 
$i8;ooo.- .. ' '■; • - ^ ■ . ;.; 

; Warner (.WB)^ f2;000; .25-40).-. 
'Christmas Jul.v.' <Par) and 'Here 
Comes- Navy' . l W.BV-. (re-issue): - Re- 
viewers, went to town,: , on Preston 
Sturgcs - nini and unth Dick Powell., 
local fave, being hailed jfor his per- 
. formarice, and help frblh Cagney- 
O'Briert rcMSsue. will get nearly $6.- 
000. That's best in lorigUirfie for. a 
dual^at this spot. ; Last week, *Northr 
Wc5t Mounted' (jPar) in-.five days of 
fourth week, great at $4,000. . ■ 



Portland, (bre:, Pet:/ 31. 
'Coriirade X* i^ the best, hew 
opener; and is doing a nice biz for 
the. Broadway, Most. ^riiajbr spots 
have, hio/s,, with. 'Arizona' in the 
lead" at" the -Paramount arid 'Love 
Thy Neighbor' coniing in a close 
second at the Ortheum. f. ; •. . '.; 

Estima;i9s: fbr This Week ' '- 
, Broadway (Parker) (2,000; 35-40-; 
50)— 'Cornrade X' (MrG) and 'Bit of 
Heaveri' (U ). Looks like great $5,600 
and :may- hold. Last week, 'Tpgboat 
Annie' . (WB) And 'Here Comes Navy 
(WB) (re-issue), did .good enough 

.$4i00p.:V' ;':.. ■.:'.-■■:•;■•■.. 

'■ Mayfalr. (i'arker-Evergrpen) .(1,- 
500; 35-40-^50 )— 'Texas. Rangers' (Par ) 
and- 'Wori't i Talk' (Col): Just about 
average $2,500. Last week, 'Go West' 
(M-G) ; moved over from. UA^ and 
'Tin Pari Alley' (20th) riioyed over 
from Orpheum, riiade a strong duo 
for three days at $1,800. ; . 
' brpbeain . ( Hamrick-EViergreen ) 
(1,800;- 35-4()-5d)i^'Lbve Thy Neigh- 
bor' (Par); and 'Laddie' . (RKO).. 
S,ec6pd .week still holding up to okay 
$4i000; First wieek nice $4,800;. 
• Paramount (Hamrlck-Evergreen ) 
(3,000; 35-40-50)— 'Arizona' (Col) and 
'Earl Carrol's' (Par). Second week 
still satisfacfiory $4-,500. rFirst week,; 
great $6,000;. 

United Artists (P*arker) (l.OOO; 35- 
40.50)-^'Neilie ..Kelly' (M-G) . and 
'Dulcy',, (M-G). Second week gopd 
$3,800. First week, hearty. $4,500.. 



Comrade' Great $5,600, 
' 2(1 4iGi fori; 







Estimated Total Grrtss : 
; ThIs: .Week. ; ; , . ;$Si;6,300 

v (Based on 13 theatres) . 
TotAl Gross .Same 'Week : 
\ LMt Year. .. .. . .. . , . . i$470,400 

(Based on. 12 theatres) ; ;. ; 





'Arizona Good 9(i 



.Cincinnati, Dec. 31. 
Rosy holiday hue is emanating 
from most cages in . cinema center. 
Three houses changed pics and up- 
ped scales at 6 p. m^ today (31) ior 
New Year's; eve .trade. Shubert, 
ushering in vaiidfilm: Season, also ad- 
varioed scale on seat r^sservations for 
two eve performarices. Both; sell- 
outs.. ■ . .. . , 
'Santa Fe Trail* is racking up a 
hefty mark for the Palace and 'Gone* 
also is fetching a tall take on its 
pop-price opening in the Capitol 
with thrice-daily screenings. Albee 
is doing : tairly ; good on 'No, No, 
Nanette.' :' 

■ Linking 'Gallant Sons' with a five- 
act bill,- topped by Tommy Riggs, 
arid, aided by the extra eve coin,- the 
Shubert is off to a fast -start on itis' 
conibb policy. House will have flesh 
for 'a minimiirii of 12. weeks. 
.; Estimates for This Week 
Alfiee (RKO ) (3,300; 33-40-50)— • 
'Nanette' (RKO), six aiid. one-half 
days. Fair $9,000. 'Love Thy Neigh- 
'bor' (Paf); opens tonight (31) at 6 
p.' m., at advanced 47760'-cent; scale 
for holiday. . Last week, 'Chad 
Hanna' (2Qth), five :days, so-so 
$6,500. 

Capitol (RKO). (2,000; 50-55-65)— 
•Gone with Wind' (M-G): Okay $12.- 
000 for start of pic's return run at 
pop scale. Last week. 'Go West* 
(M-G) (2d , run), five days, sloW 
$2,500. 

Famliy (RKO) ^1,000; . 15^8)— 
'Youlh Served': (20th) and 'Spies in 
Air' (Ind), split with. 'Boss Bullion 
City' (U) arid !Devil Bat' (Ind). 
Average $2,00(». Ditto laist week for 
'Diamond Frontier' .(U) and 'Sandy 
Man'; (U). divided with -Men from 
Texas- (Par) and 'Aunt Maggie' 
(Rep). ■ 

Grand (RKO) (1.430; S3-40-50)— 
'Chad Hanna': (20th).. . six. days. 
Transferred from Albee for second I 
week. . Floppo .'$3.0.00.: . 'Son :-Mpntc - 1 
dristo;' (UA) moves in .today (31). ! 
Last week, ; 'Bank . Diqk'. (U), ;fnild , 
$3i50b. : - , , , - ■;. V 1 

Keith's (Libson) (1,500; 33-40-50) 
—'kildare's Crisis' '(M-G); .six and 
cine-half days. Sad $6,500. •Openih-g 
•tonight (31) at' 6 p.rii. with' 'Sante Fe 
Trail' (WB), switched froin Palace 
■for:s'ec'bhd Week; ' Last; Week, -.'South 
Suez' (WB), fair $3.;000. ; .; ., . - 

•Lyric : (RKO) (1,400; 33-40-50)— 
'Mere Comes .Navy' (WB) (reMssuic);- 
foui*' days, moveover . frolri' Shubert 
for; second run. :Okay ;.$2,000: :;.Rc-; 
placed -NeW. Year's Day . .by 'Phila- 
delphia Story' (M-G). rpovfhg ;f)ver 
from three-week run-at Palace. LSjsl 
Week/ ^Tin Pan : Alley' (20th) ..(2d. 
run ). fair $2,200. - - ; .; . ,. 

Palace (RKO >- (2.600; .33^40-50)-r 
'Santc Fe Trail' (W.B).:six and one- 
half- '.days. Big $-13,000: , ,'Comrade 
X' (M-G) opening tonight (31 1. at^ 
upped 47-60-cent holiday scale. Last 
weeki 'Philadelphia Story' (3d Wk.-. 
six days). gObd .$6,500, hitting a 
wham $32,0.0() for the :20-day run. • 
Shubert (RKO) ,, (2.150; 44-60)^ 
'Gallant Sons'" , (M^G ) : and .: vaude. 
Toriiriiy Riggs .topping fi.ve-act bill 
for belated ;start of vaudnlm sea.son^ 
which will riin a minimurii of 12 
week's. Stage fare drew , dandy 
For NeW Year's Eve hou.se 



. . ; Irid|anapolis. Dec. 31. 

Ja:ck Benny- and Fred Allen- take 
over: the spare charige departrrieht 
in the downtown isectbr this week., 
leading the field, by several lengths 
in 'Love Thy Neighbor* dualled with 
^Meet the Wildcat' at the Circle. 
|»ic is headed for healthiest, hiz 
house ^hais had on straight pix policy 
since the beginriing of 1940. , 

Indiana, big .3,100-seat deluxer, 
felt the Christmas panic was over 
arid reopened on Weanesday (25) for 
six .days of 'Chad Hanna* and 'Night 
at Earl CarroU'is* but traffic is thin, 
Loew's, changing over to , Tue;sday 
opening, is doing nicely, with 'Ari- 
zona- arid 'Girls Under ; 21.' Lyric 
booked in acts and called it 'New 
Year's Revue' and' added 'Behirid the 
News' on the screen, but the red ink 
is but"for the week even with the 
help of a midnight show on New 
Year's Eve. , 

Estimates for HUs Week 

Circle (Katz-Dolle) (2,600; 25-30- 
40)— 'Love Thy Neighbor' (Par) arid 
'Meet WUdcat' (Par). Terrific $12,- 
000. Last week, 'Christmas July* 
(Par^ knd 'Streets Paris' on: stage, 
red $8,000. 

Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3.100; 25- 
30-40)— 'Chad Hanna' (20th) and 
'Earl Carroll's' (Par). Six days only, 
weak. $6,500. . House crbssed lip the 
calendar, to be able to bring iri 
'Sknta; Fe* for lO-day stay following 
ctirrerit booking. 

Loew*s (Loew's) (2,400; 25-30-40) 
—'Arizona*; (Col.) and 'Gjrls ' 21' 
(Col). ; Good $9,000, Last week. 'Kjil- 
dare's Crisis* (M-G) and 'Angels 
Broadway* (Col), five diays, poor 
$3,500. - 

Lyric (Lyric) (i. 900; 25-30-40— 
'Behind NeWs' (Rep ) and vaude. 
Red $7,500. Last week, 'R6d Hair' 
(WB) and Larry Clinton's orchestrai 
plus Elaine Barrie, also carmine 
$7,700. 



BALTO'S XMAS NM; 
'BAGDAD' BEST, 12G 



. Bialtlrriore. Doc. 31. . 
Practically, all downtowners are 
opening ;neW. films today (Tue.s.) .to 
cash, in on holiday biz figured , to 
reach a gratifying climax through 
New Year's Eve extra .midni(»ht do- 
ings. Keith's with h.o. of 'Second 
Choras,' plarining all-night grind. 
Astaire-Goddard film attracted fav- 
orable action on opening round in 
spitb , of ; one of worst ' Xmn.s weeks 
oxpeiiibnced in this tpwn in years. 
Loew's Century, opening '(ibrhrade 
X' today, also ,gbt sbme^ fair action 
with. 'Thief of Bagdad;' but; rest of 
li.st -strictly , blah,;' Imprbveriient 
lookod for With lineup, currently on 
"hand.' ' '■..-.<'- • . ■,- ■ 

,, Estlmales for ; this- Week ' 
Cilintury (Loew's-UA ) (3,000; . 15- 



Los' Angeles, Dee. 31. 
Heavy tairis of the past Week havt 
dispersed ttie flu germs that .were 
prevalent in ;th6se parts ibr number .; 
of weeksf. This, coupled ;with a gen- 
erally imprbved product . artd th*. 
ending of ;tne . pre-Christmas shop?- 
pihg orgy, has first run. exhibs here- 
;abouts pnm[ed;fbr top-heavy igrbsses. 
for . the opening week of 1941; ■Vir- 
tually, all' of the, acers started -the 
current week with new shoWs today 
(Tuesday) or . for the special New„ 
Year's ; eve perforniances : toriight.. ; 
With' tilted prices tonight ' arid, to-; 
morrow, hbiise Operators are- looki.ng 
f brwaird to a whale of a: start; 

. -Single' bills ate: the .rule father;, 
than the eicception this week. Sched- 
ules, during; the; past. .cpupl6 of 
starizas were pretty Wuch uipset.with . 
frequent 10 and 12-day runs, re- 
sorted to in order to permit the holi- . , 
day . eye openings. . ; 

:A11. grosses below are exclusive of 
New Year's eve, excepting the Pan-: , 
tages arid RKO;; ; 

V ' Estimates , f or Tbis Week . 
Cafthay Circle (F-WC) (1,516; 30- 
44^515^75). 'Philadelphia . Story 
(M^G), Opened ' New. Year's.. «eve; ; 
Last week, dark.. '. 

Chinese (GraumanrF-WC) (2,034; :- 
30-44-55-75) -r- 'Philadelphia Story' 
(Mi.G). New Year's ^ve debiit, day- 
datirig -with the Carthay Circle and 
State. Last week. 'Bagdad'- (UA) land 
'Murder New York'. (20th),' $10,400 
on full severi days, and additional 
$4,500 .on hbldovier .to New Year's 
eve; ; ■ - .- ■ ■ 

Downtown (WB) (1.806; 30-44-55) 
T-'Santa Fe Trail' (WB). With holi- 
day prices in effect today and to- 
morrow, and a.stiff uppea tariff for ; 
toriight, opus is primed for good. : 
getaway that will lasf. l6 days; Last 
Week, 'Four Mothers* (WB) arid 
'South Suez' (WB) (2d wk.), topped 
first week and hit big $8,500; ; 
. Four Star (UA-F-WC) (900; 44-55) 
—'Flight Destiny' (WB) (2d wk). 
With - jCmas and New Year's eve biz 
included^ pourided out rieat $6,000 
for first stanza. ._ 

Ha,wall (G&S) (1,000; 30-44-55-75) 
—/First Romance' (Mono) and 'Out- 
sider* (Mono). World preem for this 
.Edith Fellows starrer, openinig New 
Year's ei^fe: Last week, : 'Before I 
Hang' (Col) and 'Won't Talk' (Col) 
(2d :wk); holiday bil helped to 
around ;$1,500, 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 30-44-55) 
—'Santa Fe Ti-ail' (WB.). First Hol- 
lywood showing, day-dating with 
the Downtown, and set for total of 
16 days. Last Week, 'Eoiir Mothers' 
(WB) and 'South . Suez' ' (WB), 
picked up slightly over initial stanza 
for neat $7,000. . 

Orpheum (2.100; 30-44-55-75)— j| 
'Diamond Frontier' (U) (1st run 1 
downtoWn) and Jan Garber orches- 
tra. Opens New Year's day..: . L^gt 
week, . 'Melody Ranch' (Rep) and 
Major Bowes unit on stage, held for 
nine days for healthy $12,000. 

Pantaires (Pan) (2,812; .30-44-55)^ 
'Nanette' (RKO) and 'Saint Palm 
Springs' (RKO). New shoiy got 
away New Year's eve. . Last week, 
'Arizona' (Col) and 'Blondie Cupid* 
(Col) (2d wk), excellent $12,500 on 
holdover, including New Year's eve. 

Paramount (Par) (3,595; 30-44-55- 
75)— 'Loye Thy Neighbor' (Par) and 
stage shb.w. With tv/o-reiserved seat 
performances New Year's^ Eve nnd 
advanced tariff on Wednesday big 
first week is anticipated. Last week, 
'Second Chorus' ( Par ) grabbed $ 17,- 
000 on first .sevori r'nY« . and with 
holdover, should hit $25,000. 
: KKO. (RKO) (2,872; 30-44-55)-^ 
'Nanette* (RKO) and ^Saint Palm 
SwinK.s' . (RKO). 'La.St Week; 'Aii- 
zbna' (Col) and 'Blonaie Cupid' (Col) 
<2d, wk).' finished to big , $13,500 in- ■ 
clOdinA'' New Year's Eve. - 

State ,; (Loew-F-WC) (2,4l4; 30-44- ' 
rv';-75)— 'Philadelphia Stocy',: (MrG). 
rripl.e-d.ayrdate 'shoWinc! not' expect- 
ed to cut into downloWri take. Last 
week. 'Bagdad* ' (UA) arid 'Murder 



28^44 )^tomrade:.X' (M-G); :C)pea- I.K^Vn^S^vorlfhV^^'** '^"^^ .-^vraer 
ne:,tohigHlr, (Tubs;o. after: weel^: of SX^u W^n^Y^J'^^^^ "i^I 



'Bagdad' fUA) to tbwh-leading .$12. 
,000. Previous five days of 'Vova<!e 
Home' . (UA)' built lb moide.st $,5.200' 
on Excellent crick reaction. , , 

Hippodrome (Riippaporf) ,(2.20.'j: 
15-28-39-44-55-66;) ,— .'I^ittv v Foyle'" f- in- ,>vY" t"':--:- ."^/V^-^-'V 
(RKO;) ;plu.s vaude headed- by Benny ' ^f$^ 

mm OperiiriB tohinht after rather <J^;G),.n.st wk- an.d:'Go..We.?t (M-G). 



week crabbed float $14,700 arid an- 
other S.6.500 ori extra four days hbld- 
Oyov for .total of -"ro).'"^ .^^l.CiO, ' ' 
. :lJriitcd Artists (UA-F-WC') (2.100; ■ 
.70-f44>i55)7T-.'Bagdad' UA) and '.Mur- 
der ; ;'Mew Yot^k". . (20th ). . .; .Moveover 



biz, :but not big. ; Total of $6,000, 
above average. Moved out today. 
(31) for 'Kitty Foyle' (RKO) and: 
'Saint Pjalrtii- Springs' . ^RKO.).. Last 
Week - Hed Hair' : (WB) and; 'Here, 
Comes Navy' '(WB, re-i.ssue) took a 
licking from shoppers, but bettered 
expectations at $4,000. ' 
, .Tower ,(Joffee) (2.110; ::10-30)— 
'Melbdy Rarich' (Bejj) auth stage bill . 

headed by stripper Mona Leslie, ' notices. .---..^ 
Autry' hlm^ d work here.'^has reserved, seat 75-.$1.25 scale .for 

=n^'%fi%n \rtho^^^ u^ual take I tw6 perfotmances, both sold out • m 
L^st Week 'Youtrsb?ved' (m^ Swell $li5.0D0. Last ;wcek. 

vS^'&lSu^-SS kiddie: re.: 1 'Her^^Com^^y' (WB)vtre-issue), 
y ;e,.slo.wed up to $5,000. , I no dice at $2,500. 



D^vis. Operiirig tonight after ;rather 
dLsapnointing Week; : of. 'JSTanettc' 
(RKO) plus vaude to ,$11,000. Pre- 
vious five days of 'Night Trojiics' 
(U.» and local talent 'Baltimore 
Follies,', attratiled riiild $8,600. ; ; , 
',— Keithrs /Schanberger) (2,400;: l."?- 
28-33-39-44)— 'Second Chorus' (Par).' 
Starts .second week tomorrow (Wed.) 
after chalking up: a , satisfying opcri- 
ing round to $9,500. 
, New (Mechanic) (1.581; 15-28-35- 
44 J— 'Hudsbn's B^y': (20th). . Operiing 
at midnight tonight (Tues.). after 10 
days bf 'Chad Hanria' to steady total 
of $8,200, . a gobd figure for this 
limited seater. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 15'28-39.44- 
55)-^'North West Mounted' (Par). 
Opening today (Tuies.) after 10 days 
bf .'Four Mothers' ;(WB), 'to , fair 
$10,700. 



C2d..'^wk.), verv :,<5atisfactoty $4i500. 
. Wl!'';rlre . (F-WG) (2,414; 30-44-55): 
— 'Bat^dad' ,(UA) and "Murder v New. 
York' (20th ) iiishered: in.; NeW Year's 
eve. Last week, .'Escape' f M-G ) with 
hbldover of 'Go West' (IVL-G), 6ti i\Tt 
and. a hialf days good $6,200: . 



er 



Holly wood, ;Diecr 31.: : 

RKO has; signed John;-.Garroli for 
the male lead opposite. Anna Neagle 
in the musical, 'Sunny,' slated to roll 
Jan. 13. 

Herbert: Wilcox prbducies and; -di- 
ireicta. - - ' • ^ ' ' , '-.' - ■ 



12 mtEIINATIOlirAL 



TARIBTt'B' LONDOD OFFICB 
• St. MarUn'a FImc, Tri»tal«ar Square 




; Sydney, Dec. 31 . 

Hoyts-Greatier Unipii T Ji e a I r e ? 
merger, set recently for final cpii:- 
sumaiion Jan. l. liofE ;for good* With 
the latter circuit continuing soip. 
Several , new. barriers are reputed to 
havei prevented the merger, chieiE'of 
wjiich is said to be additional can-: 
cellation clauses sought by 2Qth'Fp5c 
on product. 2Dth : controls Hoy ts. 
Another is the Warner -Bros. 'situa- 
tion in the proposed heAy booking 
alignment. 

Warners,^ which, has a ■deal with 
Hoyts. for its -product, is reported . . 
not being keen' oyer the tran.sfer- bt . 
Its product fraricTiise for . a ' period ot 
20 years to General Theatres 5,under 
the same terms it currently is operat- 
ing with the Hoyt circuit. -Under- 
stood that Warner, reps here felt it 
was being pushed around under the 
proposed hew Setup. 

Under' the so-called merger, agree- 
ment, Hbiyts. arid .Greater Union 
would have re-established General: 
Theatres on ah active basis, as book-.; 
Ing and operating outfit fbr the two 
Aussie circuits. Deal , wais to be for 
20 years. 



Hahbuiy Memorial 

Fund Drawis $2^060 

; :' : ^Lbndpn, DiSCi 15, 
Fund for shaping a ; cbncriete me- 
mprial to . . fialph Hanbury, RKO: 
•chief here killed by bombing, dr^w 
subscriptlpns ; from cinema- trade 
reaching $2,000, . 

. AmPunt turned over to Ginema; 
Trades : Benevolent Fund for set- 
ting up sPme permanent reminder. , 






ACnON PIX IN 




Buenos Aires, Dec; 31, 
AcUpn pix and the. often neglected: 



Another batrier is the way Snider- shorts are. to be emphasized here by 
Dean ^chain,' linked with Hoyts' op- ' both Paramount and 20th-Fox next 
erations,, figured under , the proposed , 5easpn. Sales', coriyehtions of both 
booking arrangement, Shider-rDean 
houses were taken .under the Hoyts 



' compiahies recently'.'sfressed the big 
spectacle, fast-movjng, historical or 



H^wtod's '41 Push 



(), & Distnbs See Inc^^ in Rentals 



wing with its far-flung circuit opera- 
tions after Greatej" Union decided to 
go it aiohe a couple of years ago. 



fictional feattires which Latin 'audi- 
ences prefer not pnly because of 
I language differences but due to the 
S-D combo did hot like its position ' general temperament. . 
in the new setup, and consistently I Paramount session, held at the 
prPtested. Exhibitors here, .originally 1 Plaza; stressed number , of star pix 

oDDbsed tP -merger recently swung and put sp.ecial attentipri to. Cecil .^""se cnas ie« qangimg ai meir^iNOr 
to supVoA out! ^^ iB.. DeMiile's 'Northwest Mounted' vember gathering here will be tied. 

Greater Union, no longer in the ' and Claud^ette Colbert's 'Arise My 



sContlnucd from. ii»f« 1. 

sharing organizatipn comprising di- 
rectbrs Lewis Milestone and . Anatoli 
Litvak and stars Charles : Boyer, 
Ronald Cplmiani and lirene Dunne. 
20th will also have one. Hpward 
Hughes picture, 'The Outlaw,' Ipr de.- 
.livery'. ini June. ■ • 

. Warners is al«) on the hunt and 
hopes to have a second Frank Capra 
feature for 1941-42, ' but Capra re- 
fuses to be jiinned down to a deal 
until after hie deliyers. 'Meet John 
Dpe.•.:^■ w ;■ 

Metro Huddles Easl>8.n(^ West ^ . ' 
Metro crowd is skedded to con-, 
vien^ immediately after N,e\y Year's 
Day; witb Nicholas M. Schenck, the 
big boss, presiding. Meanwhile, A) 
Lichtman and Bernie Hiyman, of the 
studio executive cpuncil; have gone 
to New York to consult with thPse 
Metro, home 'pfrice . heads, Who,^ be- 
cause .pi p^ressing business, are un- 
ablfe. to . make the ,westwaBd >jaunt 
with Schenck; Lichtman^ and Hyman 
are due. back here within. 10 days 
vvheh they . will, submit . their nepojrt 
fbr consideration of those participatT 
ing in the lot meetings. 
. . Sidney R. Kent, 20th7Fox jprexy, 
who . only a week .ago- returned to 
;New York after a hurried trip here 
to attend the funeral of his brother, 
tlrnest,' triains in again Jan,12 to pre- 
side over the -Wesfwood studio's 
prpductTbUdget. discussions. In which 
Joseph M. Schenck, board chairman; 
Darryl Zariuck, v.p. in charge of pro- 
ductibn, arid William Gpetzi exec- 
utive v;p., will have a hand. 
jPar Biggies Comtnicr West 
Barney fialaban, P'arambynt pres- 
ident; .. Stahtoh Griff is, executive 
committee chairman; AdolpK Zu- 
kbr,. board 'chairn.ari; Russell Hol- 
mah, home office . production head, 
arid Neil Agnew, v.p.i in charge of 
distribution, are expected in Holly- 
wood around Jan. 20, at which tiriie 
loose ends left dangling at their No 



will be nothing fprthcbmirig from 
Sntalli Richard . Rpwland; EpewV 
Lewiri, Janiies .Roosevelt's. Globe or 
iSamuel Gbld.iVyri ipJr' some time un- 
less Silverstpne is able to talk them 
into about-face. Avheri he cpirieis west. 

Columbia's meetingi will b^ held 
either here or iri New .Yprk arpUnd 
Jan. 20, with Hariry and Jack C3phn 
and; pther Col pfTicials. liarticipating. 
Current dpubt! as tb the spot for the, 
gathering is .due to the fact that cpni- 
pany busiriess ^riiay necessitate the 
presence of Harry Cphri in New York 
at that - tirriiB, but . should: he. find it 
possible .tp be in ; Hpllyvypbd, the 
sessiphs will be held at the studip, : 
Herbert Yates,. Republic board 
chairman, arid James Ri iGrainger, 
Repp's ' sales . manager, are ■. expected 
here arpurid Jan. 10' tb launch 1941- 
42 product talks with Mbe J. Siegel, 
Repi studio overlord.; . 

Much oi the tiriie of Metro, 20th- 
Fox and RKO bigs will be taken up 
with conversations airiied at addi- 
tipns; tp their respective " producer 
persorineV All -three of these com- 
panies are ^known to be carrying 
on negotiatiPns designed to strerigth- 
en. their prpducer ranks.: 



red on 1940 operations, likely will 
show a net profit of about $165,000 
for the last 12 months, bulk of .this 
coming from circuit operations. Thi^ 
company went into black after Nor- 
man B. Rj^dge, chairman,' had charge 
of the management less than a full 
year. New theatre construction and 
renovations have helped materially, 
Greater Union has . had to depend 
on '■■ Universal, Columbia, Republic 
and Moribgram for most of its Ameri- 
can product, although obtaining some 
Metro and Paramount first-run. Lat- 
ter two -have, their owri key city 
houses which naturally get the bulk 
of the top features. Hoyts^ has 20th 



Lpve,' both of which are being sold 
oh a separate basis. 

Newsreels and. cartoon, shorts will 
be given more attention by Par. 
Company has also worked out a set- 
up with indeperident takers in vari- 
ous S. A. countries to get shots from 
here to be edited in the States. Fact 
that newsreels are all airmailed and 
that most stuff gets here from New 
York in. five days is claimed to make 
the scheme practical. • 

More attention will also be given 
publicity. 'World in Flames,* which 
got special handling and is now cur- 
rent iri B. A., paid big returns/ con- 
verition was told. In addition to the 



Fox (with National Theatres, a Fox general bally, more time and . effort 



subsid, hoJdirig control of the cir- 
cuit), Warner Brps., UA, RKO and 
occasional Metro pictures^ 



.. Showdown Near 

Repprted in New Yprk this week 
that a shoiydown one way or the 
other >y6uld cbme on. the Hoy ts- 
Greater Union merger deal withiri 
the riext 10 days. Dan Michalove, 
National Theatres, executive, who has 
followed the. proposed pact -closely 
as representative of 20th-Fox, has 
abandoned all. intention of going to 
Australia for the present. Trip . to 
Sydney was planned for last fall 
or early this year. 



is to be devoted to cbncentratiori on 
pix deemed worthy of buildups. 

In addition to the action angle, 
Sidriey Si Horan, general riiariager 
of 20th-Fo)t for Argentina, Uruguay 
and Paraguay, also revealed his. 
company will henbeforth operate on 
a cash-on-delivery basis. 



PASCAL EN ROUTE WITH 
'MAJOR BARBARA' FILM 



TWO $100,000 SUITS 
VS. GAUMONT-BRITISH 



Two suits by the Film Alliance bf 
the U. S,., Inc., against .GaundOntr 
British Pictures .Corp. . bf America, 
and; isidor Ostrei: for $100,000 each 
were revealed Thursday (26) in N. Y. 
supreme court, when plaintiff ap- 
plied for permiissipn tP. examine ,bs- 
trer and: Mary Larkin, assistant sec- 
retary of GB, before, trial. . Both ac- 
tions are identical, charging breach 
'bf - cbritract/ .. ■ .. 

vSuit asserts that o'n Ti^arch 21, .1940, 
plaintiff's assignor, Albert. P. de 
Couryiile, entered into, an agreement 
with GB for the sole : American disr 
tribUtioh .rights; to .'Thirigs Are Lobk- 
Irig l?p'. .'and . paid $2,500 for the 
rights. ■. , •'.■ ■ :. '■ ■ 

It is claimed that the defendants 
are npw refusing tb deriyer a print 
of :thfe picture.. Reaspri ipr the large. 



Gabriel Pascal left Lpndon Sun- 
day (29) on his way to the U; ~S. .with 
a print of 'Major Barbara,': which he 
recently completed and which will 
be distributed in this country by 
yriited Artists. Producer is slated to 
clipper from Lisbon to arrive in 
New York either Sunday, (5) "or 
Tuesday (7). 

He . had origHiaily intended to do 
the . dubbing and cutting of Ihe 
Ariierican. V .bf the - G^ 
Bernard .Shaw yarn :lri thiis country, 
but conripleted it while aWaifirig a 
reservation . . the • trans-Atlantic 
plane. . Steve Palibs, NieW Yot^k rep 
for Alexander 'Korda, will also ;hari-. 
die Pascal's sales.. : 



with the studio bigs, ^including Y. 
Frank Freerilan, Henry Ginsberg and 
William .Le3arPn, around the big oak 
table. 

George J. Schaefer, RKO pres- 
ident, has notified, his studio lieuten- 
ants he will return to the Coast 
J'an. 15 fpfT^' lengthy, stay. Already 
.here, is Ned. Depinet, v.p.," in charge 
bf sales, whp will check the RKO 
story files preliminary, to Scha<efer's 
coming, which will be the signal for 
the beginning: of the Gower street 
lot's 1941-42 pfograrii draftinjg meets 
Grad; Sears, Warners sales' chief; 
Major Albert Warner, v.p. in charge 
of distribution, and. Norman Moray, 
short: subjects sales generalissimo, 
will trek this . way between Jan. 15. 
arid Jan. 20 for powwows with Harry 
M. arid Jack L. Warner and Hal 
Wallis, at which time the Warners 
.1941-42 docket will be lined, up 
Silverstbne, . Kelly West 
^ Murray Silverstbne, United Artists 
operating .head, and Arthur Kelly 
new v.p.' in charge of distributiPri 
are ejcpected here bef pre the end of 
this week to confer with UA's jjro. 
ducers; . 

Silverstone faces a particular prob 
lem when he reaches Hollywood lor 
tliere is no relaxing in his outside 
producers' stand for a showdown and 
a shutdown until such time as UA 
revises its distribution charges down 
ward iri their favor and shows an 
inclination tP swell the present list 
playdates. That Edward Small 
meant business when he announced 
he would' close completely Jan. 
Was disclosed today (31).;, when he 
dropped the ; skeleton organizatiori 
he has been carrying since complet 
ing 'Spri of Monte Gristp.' 

Dr. Williarii Sekely is- gpirig ahead 
with plans to. put 'New Wirie;? which 
will use Alexarider Kbrda's UA out 
let; into work around Feb. 1,. Hfal 
Roach i^: talking .flv(? to, six features 
fpr 1941 "but whether these! will mai' 
terialdze seems to be a moot ques' 
t-6n' 'even brt the; Roach lot, iliere 




London, piec. 15. . side.' Whatever credence , is attached 
Repprted; new twist' to proposed j. to . this ; (Jredit Bank -develbprnent. 



sum sued for,,plaintiff explains, . is . Credit Bank, financing plan for indie j idea is bound to meet With opjiosish 
due, to., the pr&ence m the picture I picture prPducers hete, is that^^e^^ exhibs wary -.of anything hav 



q/ 'Vivian, Leigh, who has attained 
great popularity: in the U;; S. since 
•Gbne With the Wlrid.' ' . . 



Benlta Qel Vlilar, Parambunt man- 
aging editor iri. Chile, Peru arid Bo- 
livia^ arrived in New York.' ilbnday 
(30) for a month's visit 



wdUld be cut iri; for 50% of provided 
toin, treasury department : takirig 
care of r«riiainder, . Method of rais- ; 
ing the exhib. coin would be through: 
a seat levy. - ' : ,■":.. '.:. . ' 

Trade continues to be left cbmv' 
pletely in the dark bri what measures' 
go.vernment Js mulling for cpn- 
tinuance -of ; film • production on this 



ing to do with scales, 

'Exhibs have .already been given 
a tough brie to hurdle via govern 
merit prt>ppsial that, reduced seat- 
prices for troops should, be riiari 
aged via subscri]itibns from civilian 
patrbris, collected at the hoUse and 
making up to the ejchib:^ reduction 
granted khaki cinemagbers. 





ussie 






INCREASED 




Washirigtpn, Dec. 31; 
With the Germian. motiPri( picture 
industry holding the whiphand, Nor- 
way's film industry is. planning" a 
considerable exparisiPn fbr the CPm- 
ing year, the Bureau of Foreigri and 
Domestic Comriierce reported last 
week. ; 

Norwegian exhibitors -r^ and also 
producers-^are expected tP 'take ad- 
vantage pf the abnormal situation 
riow . existing in the home markiet.' a 
Commerce Department observer de- 
clared, although American filnis un- 
doubtedly will coritinue to be subpr- 
dinated tp German pix. 

During the first nine months of this 
year a total bf 165 pictures, were 
shown in Oslo, it was reported; 'of 
which 78 wei-e American and 32 Ger-' 
man. In the cprresppnding period of 
1939 a total of 235 films , was shown, 
of which 146 .were Anrierican and 
only 17 German. 

• 'During the Coming season it is 
probable that German studios will 
provide mPst pf the motion picture 
filriis exhibited in Norway,' the Com- 
merce Departriierit commented, 'with 
sonie pictures coming from Sweden 
and Deninark. Norwegian studios 
have completed five pictures during 
the current year, and it is anticipated 
that this number: will be riiaterially 
increased during I94i.* 



'V.. v. Sydney,-, Deb. 1. 
While exhibs pressirig from 
every angle to pfeverit .rental. In- 
creases next ' year, . U,' S^ disti'ibs -ar'fe 
pUzzled as. to. how the problem can 
be: overcorne, Iridlcatibns are - that 
rentals, not solely with major at- ; 
tractiionis, ; biit with thie minors as ;; 
vir.ell, must increase somewhat to off-/ 
set mpUntirig Overhead' and wartime- 
.taxatibri. ' . 

Pres'eritiy it dosts :$5;O00Ho land any 
sort of a. pic in this. zPne,^ If the piic : 
is canned by exbibs under their 25% 
right of rejection, then the distribs 
are 'put $5,000, arid,' generally, the 
]N[. 'Y, moguls want to know, why.; A, 
loss is a : ibss ho ' matter how good 
th^i.alibii-'/ ■ 

' Increases in .: Pverhead have been 
bPrne;:by the di&tribs; np\y the dis^ • 
tribis -want tP, do a little buck passings : 
but the exhibs': are riot keen tb play 
that way, hiriting that prices shbuld 
not be upped because: this is wartime. 
It's quite an . interesting problem for 
the Mption Picture pistribs Assn; to. 
solve.-'. . •■; 

Seeks Own- Classiflcaiipn J 

. Sbme distribs, "probibly . follpw!ing 
pn advice frpm N. "YT, have beeri put-, 
ting. , Into the 'floater' cliass pix .re- 
garded ; by exhibs. as jiist 'ordiriary' 
programmers, tagging on a higher 
rental or percentage to cop some 
extra! dpugh td satisfy, the ;n. Y. 
bosses; Exhibs,, to keep - down: the! 
tally, . play up the '25 % ' re jection 
angle. ' . ' . ' ■. 

. Many majpr exhibs would like to 
do their own product classification. 
They say that the N..Yv moguls have - 
no conceptiPn of what, is suitable fpr 
this particular zorie, instancing that 
a football pic, while • regarded as tops 
for a' U. S. playaround, is generally ; 
nixed over here.- Domestic pix, too, 
are a headache to the exhibs. 



In Ldndon Studios 



niENCH FILM DENIED 
OK BY N.Y. CENSORS 



London, Dec' 15. V . 
Boberta ikaid, newcomer, tb . cellu- 
loid, signed, by British National to 
feature tole in 'Loyie on the Dole,' 
She was I)reyibusly in repertory. 



\puiKan Sutherland assigned .' as 
art directoi" bri Leslie Howard's 'Mi'.: 
I?lnipernei.!$mith.' c 



.' 'Spring Meeting;,' Associated British 
entry, completed at Welwyn studios! 
Walter Mycroft, prbdUctiori chief , re- 
ported mulling ArnPld Bennett tome,: 
'The Card;? as( next for AB. . ' 



Bernard KiiowIeiB .draws cahiera 
chore pii RKO's ! 'The Saint's Vacar 
tibn.' ' '.■ ;! -v :■: ' ■ 



• Twentieth Ceritary will put 'OnCie 
.a Crook,' based on §tageplay of . a. 
season agb j irito; work following cur^ 
rent 'Mr, Kipps.' , . Gordpn. Harker 
and Sydney - Hpward are co-starred. 
•Cbriiedy , will replace 'Spitflre,' an 
airfprce story, ph. the schedule; Lat- 
ter is set back till January. . ! 



-George Formby. vehicle, 'As. Ypu; 
Are,' got uriderway. at Eaiirig studios, 
with Peggy Bryan set iri the opposite 
bracket. It's her first picture. Feat- 
ured are Edward Chapman, Macken- 
zie Ward, ! Ronald Ward; and Elliott 



Albany, N. Y.. . Dec. 31. 
. The Board of Regents hzi upheld 
Irwin Esmond, director , of the mo- 
tion picture division, N. Y. State 
Education Dept., in denying a license ' 
for exhibition of 'Have You. Nothing 
to Declare?' French picture with 
English subtitles added,. iForeign 
Films, Inc., whose president, is Jo-_ 
seph Green, 1564- Broadway, N. Y. 
City, hplds distribution rights in the 
U. S. The picture, which is char- 
acterized by mi)d authprities as pne 
telling a. Stpry in farci^ forrii of sex , 
relatibns between humans as well as^ 
insects, . \yas subriiitted for approval- 
Sept,. 14, The revieweris, the same 
day, thumbed . it down. Foreigri 
Films, then asked for an inspection 
by Director Esriiond. After ! 
screening, he nixed it tbo, on the 
grounds it was 'indecent, immoral 
and would tend to corrupt, morals;' 

.Barshay, Frankel.& Rothstein,' of 
2 Lafayette street, N. Y„ thereupon 
filed notice of appeah with the Re-, 
gents, liie applicatibn Was hpade on 
the groUnds that 'the jriotion picture 
is not indecent and immoral, rior 
would it tend tp corrupt morals with 
tlie meaning of Section 1082 of the 
Education Law.' Esmond, within 10 
days, made a several-page reply? ' 
which he described the filrii and set 
forth '■ the reasons it should not be 
licensed. - He did npt suggest that 
eliiriiriatibris; wbUld: , bring a ; greeij 
light; . SubcPriimittee^of . the Regerits 
reviewed .the .jpictUre and; reePrnV. 
mended to the Board; that: the appeal 
bie . denied. Boarid. concurred. 



UA Spiritualiisiii Pic 

Has Censor TrbuW?. 

..London, Dec. !l5;; 

Disastrous • afterriiath surrounds 
newly fbrmed. Pyrariiid Pictures' 
fiiniing of late Robeh H .Benspn's 
cbritroversial tonie; :'The Necro- 
mancers,' fiction yarn treating of ; 
spiritualism. .Cpriipleted pic was takeri 
up here by Uriited Artists," which 
figured it had a b.o. wiriner, only to. 
haye film! run. .!irito censor trouble 
around ijs subject, plus fact produc- 
ers had neglected to submit script tb 
censors, prior to gpirig intp.w^ork., 
■ . 'Sjiellbound,' hovel's picture . .title; 
stars Derek Farr arid Vera. Lyndsay. 
Miles Mailesori handlied screenplay^ 

Unless: voted pkay by .special ref- 
erfee's decision, fllhi can he shpvi'n 
pnly by those exhibs'willing to. battle 
individually for screen permit, 
n.s.h. proposition for UA, 



Wi'dncflday, January 1, 1941 



UBIETY 



13 




1941 COMES_IISL 

LIKE FOUR LIONS! 

This is a good year to be on the> Momentous (Ranges are ah^ 

alt Bf us in this in^^^ 
\vhei^^^ 

Mina^ent repiy*^^ 
194|tM|caie^ 

many others of equal importance. 

Hcippy M-©-M N6Yf Telir to V^ul 



14 iPILM WBVmWS 



Wednesday, Januiciry 1» 19 il ; 



The Invisible Woman 



:' decide Jiqw patrons will ; accept' thcr 
. . ; story as unifolded, . ; ■ ' . . 

• • Hollywood, Dec. 28, : ijtory is a psychologifral.drnrna.<)t 
rMv«i«ii ifipiist' iif, uui'i Kii)>' iMiiiiiu- niosHniusual picturetQxtiir?.. Thomas 
tion. ,stms viigiiiia' Jiriic*. J'l'in, !>'"•.'>> .Mitchell IS the college •prof«jsor, .whQ' 
K1P.S,. osciii- jii.moikM. . DiicouMi . by A. asiKs advice 01 younger iiienqs ai isie 
Eiin«r.i .wiiiherinna.-.: .«LT.ci-iii>r!ry. i>y i(Vii>'i:i. University • Club as ,to his • occupa- 
l.ci'R, Kreii jiin;iiOi>, ; c!ci-ii-uiie i;i.iiv«fi: ■ tjj,j,- cluring' his. time reiiiaihinji.' Oup 

joiln Kuii.-.ti; (iiiim-.-.KrHrik OriVxi.,; • Asi'.i .1 pfrcccl and: ..brutality. ..who ,wo.uld .not 
fliiivnor, Jki.-i'iHi .■irei iDiuiviBiv. . i!i'e.\ iewi'ii-h); .bo- taken .care of by ordmaiiy legal 
iuidio. .i.injcrtii IV X.",'"- ueci . i"- -M».'i-.-.|;mcians. IJe 'finds sucli- a person • ihv 



Miniature Reviews 



llllifT lllHC/ TO. .VI INK 
Kilty' ("(iiroll. .., 
I'rofPSKiir lillili;-'., 
n.li'hnWl .Hu«<>-n 
OcorKc...... ...'(^ 

UliioUle.,:. . . i . . . 
liiU.... 

Kojihorn. ..i . 
ih'^. Jiiulcsun.'. . 
ITianKle. 
JViin... 
I'pBK'y...,., 
Marie 
G 



Vi'n'ini*. u,,,^ '■^^<^"3 '^^^ a' scheming, and. ruth-. 
;jJi5»-i?ttrri-ilwV iess adventuress who is attempting 
. . .joiiii 1 imviini to break up the successful mSrciagc 
ttwviie. luifiRli'M l^oj i^ijj closest fi^iends; . . Finding- the 



: . . Osi'il r : 1 liiiilolW.:'! 
'. . .■; Hi)w;iril ■ UinpHy 
. . .llininld- Miu-ltlMili-' 

.'Ma'rBiU'rt liiiiiiliiiin. 
;.. ,.-.shemu itnwiiixi 
■.'..i, .'... .'. Amic : .NmkvI 
Knlhryii. Ailaili!* 



■ vvomari. .lias .previously . ruijtied the 
Uvijs of .:■ niarty . others; ' he co[ld'- 
bloodedlyv kills her. and. surrenders 
to' the law. But his philosophical 
attitude change's ijuickly when .he 



■..\i;iiin.-.M'>iupz discovers, his theory ;is. taken up. .by 

G roiviey . . y.,. '. i.;V. . . iMif»i io.<' . I .mic .| others' and whojosailo-' murders, could; 

Mrs, ■ yulK*. ; vV.-. . .:.M.U-.V- .tti>i (^nu\^.Q ^-^^ 

HSoci::;;::;::::^::v:;:viia^^^ ■;■ Mitci?eii-.;provixies .strong- . ahd- 

v ;. y- . . yivid portrayal 6f the dobmed :pr,6- 

~Late.st bt .Unlversars- IhyiSible' .se'- ^ te^ssor, Ayith-..-Mif!s. Maris ;a cloie sec-, 
•rtes has Virginia Bruce as the sub-: ond, giving a po\yerftil. pprfdrmapce. 
ject tjf a scientific .dj^GOvery combine as t.he- unscriipiflous siren. Role, is 
ing chemicals and electronics for:" t ; Miss Maris', first -in- Hollywood after 




terest generated . in ■ the"- wieid hapr: niai-ried.; couple: •IbX. whom-.Jilitchell 
penings, and '\viU' clock good biz in > cbmrruts. (he crirhe; while Jameg. 
the regular runs generally. Stephensbn is the doctor. 

The fantastic taleos amply pre-!-. Vincent Shermart dii-ccled 
sented to ' carry .throu.^h consistent l the dramatics, bf . the. piece, 

audience iht^ercst. Johh .- Howard .is i V/ithout utilizing., comedy to. ^ 
a nch youth whb". carries . on' •.'?uB- ' the heavy .-sueject,:. ■ It s... sti aight 
sidizafion of eccentric' ihVehtbr, Johiv drama all the. way; ...and a , subject 
Barrymore, after . his • father/s death.' "o^.too/ suitable for. general, nictUre 
Barrymore uses • niodel ■ -Virginia ' ■: . .- 



Bruce as. subject ipr his .irivisibilily .i 
gadget . with ■ successful .results;' just.j 
iat the lime Howard discovers he-:s ] 
broke.. Frb.mi that- point -on, the girl- 
goes, on some adventures bf her own., 
winding -up in ' Howard's huhtin.ij 



KEEPING COMPANY 

. HbUy Wood; ;bec; -: i27. ': . 
-Mi>lfo-GoU1wyn-Mayer.'rele'Aae tit .Sjuiiiiel 
Ma'r.>: .pi oduclion. Features Frnnk Morpdn,. 
A'liiy: Hii(h?r£or<l,' John - Shellon,. ITeni(> Ulrh. 
lodge for' "a strange romance. In *Vsn(' Nockhart. .Virginia- '\\'eidie.r... nirfi;ieii 
hAt«r«4pn fhf>rp'c ItiP atfpmni* nf a ''>' Sylvan Simon. . Screenplay by Jiarry; 

neiween, ineres ine aiternp.is oi .a , Ruskin, j^mtB . H. Hlii... .Adrinn Hcoit.-.- 

mob to steal the maChine-Kj.r trans-, orlitlnjil by Herman. :j; .Miinklewloz: .pani- 
portation to Meitico t6 invisifailize ' i-rii: .Karl.' Freundj editor. Elmo .Vcrdn. 
the gang, leadier for return, -to- the ' i;''«Vie*o'i , in 'Projection , Room. ; Dec. 20, 
city . in safety : ' • '"'-• RMnn'mr time, " »">■» 

cny in^saieiy. _ _ .. , ^ ,s:ttomas.. . 

Stunts of • an invisible person walkr .Mary Thomas.^..... 
Ing in and out of rooms, through ''"'fi ^'uoteri 
doors, aha cOnking. others over the.- ilJ^HeiinXn'"*" *'' 
head is played.', to" the utmost and -iuiVrJe^ ThonVasV.V.' 
with jaitisfactdry- audience reaction. ! Anantasia Atherton. 
Stoi^ framework is okay for display I '^eJl^oH'"- 
of the novelty, and- Edward Suther-. \iv^-Koste^^^^^ 
land parries direction through, at a .| : 
consistent . pace,' injecting cbfny 
though surefire situations of- slap- 
Btiick yariety' eh raute. '. 
Barrymore grooves .as the «ccen- 



,'Th(S Invisible: WoinariV (U), 
Trick .photography of invisibility ■ 
^played fdi- broad farce. G.obd' cn- 
;terlainmehtfor general audiences, 

'; -.Arty- production for .limited class . 
appeal; ■ ; , ■ ' • ; ;'.'. '-,."-' • ; 

'iKeep'ngf C 6 m p.a'ni y| (MrG ); 
" ..Faniily ..comedy-drarn^^ 
iar. textiire '.. unfolding at tedius 
piace. For the family diials, 

'.♦The. qirl In the Neiys' (20th ):..' . ' 
; An . .piitstanding • foitisiifmade 
' melodrama, okay for :U. S.' 'rtiar- 

ket.c-' ■ .-^ ■ 

.: 'San .Frahclsco Docks' (tJ).. • . 
. Tiresome - . rnelbdrama- that, will , 
^' need, plenty of support pn , duals., . 
v V 'Romance Qf the Ilio Grandie' 

. :(!Zdth). Fifth of .lhie.:Ce5ar Ro- .; . 
.:merb-'C Kid', series, .suitable . 
■■;l6r:^dual siipporti;.' . :1 / 

. 'Melody ^Ranoh' (Bcp.V. : . Ela^-, . ; 
'. rate. Gene Autry; westerrt with : 
'. Wusical .trirtmings : helped - 'by -.. 

Jimmy durante iahd' Ann jVJiller:-. 
. '' -'BpWefy- , Bipy',^ ; CRe'p):-.-' Mild ; , 
- •'inclier of; N.- Y.- sliim'5,'headed:ioE ';: '. 
meagre cliinl rbturns. 
■ 'Phantom of, Chinatown';. 
V (Mono). Murder mystery, of - .. 

;.Gi-ientai flavor that strikes a- fair. 
. ": average as a 'B! meiler. .- - 

llThati Qaii g :of Mihei' ; (Mb nb).' '- 
. -D^ad End- k ids in a raceiracic . 

rnelier 'that falls -in. .the feather-^ - 
, Weight .classi ; ;.''..■/-•• ' ■ ' ;'':'; -.,■ 



Runnlnir tlnie, Itf MIN'S. 

.... .-Frank Morgan 
.>.Ann Rutherford 



.John'Sheltoh 
..Icene^ Hlch 
Gene Locktinrt' 
. .Virginia - WeJdler 
.VIrg;ln'a-•Grey' 
■. . .Dan Drtlley,. .Ir.' 
. .Gloria- De Huvcn 
. ;. . .. .bara iiudeh 



This is the first of a . planned se- 
ries of features detailing the.,hbmey 
adventures, of a small town family, 
with three girls of ■varied • ages 
trie inventor mtist effectively, play- I pi'omiinently: spotted, • It might have 
Ing the . character nibre or .less , Ibbl^ed like a good subject on paper,, 
straight, with only a slight touch of but transference to celluloid is; hot 
farcical treatment. Miss Bruce is too successful. Floundering around 
under the wraps of .invisibility for 1 with too much story 'and incidental 
the most part,, hiding her . charms happenings, picture is a lightweight 



behind the magic of the trick pho- 
tographers. John -Howard is okay in 
a straight part, "wliil'e Charlie Rug- 
gles clicks with ^ continual • .broad 
comedy as the .butler. Oscar . Hom- 
olka is the gang leader, aided b.v 
Donald. MacBride and Edward 
Brophy. Margaret Hamilton is the 
bewildered- housekeeper for the in-, 
ventor.' 

Trick: photography has the invis- 
ible form . bf Miss : Bruce walking 
around in . visible clothes, but with 
head; arms - and legs transparent. 
Wierdness of the situations are al^ 
ways -played for broadest farce, and 
dramatics are subdued in hitting for 
the comedy." angles of the. picture. 

Walt. 



Flight . From Des.tiny 



Hollywood. Dec, 24. 



programmer that will wend its "way 
through the family circ:uit as a dual 
filler without doing much more than 
consuming time. 

Frank- Morgan Is a real iestatje: 
broker, with his> three daught fts 
providing plenty .of home interest 
with their kid adventures. - Oldest 
daughter, Ann Rutherford; is the pbr 
ject of John . Sheltoh's afflictions. 
Pair' become engaged and married. 
Although the . parents cbntihually 
provid'e sound advice on avoiding 
the pitfalls of -airgumehts and stub- 
borness, there's the separation and 
divorce cloiid before things clear up 
for happiness all around. Inter- 
spersed is plenty of madcap kid sis- 
ter-antics by tomboyish Virginia 
Weidler; and dashes of business 
troubles for the youhg hdsbdnd. - - 
- Cast - -headed ' by - Frank- Morgan, 
Ann Rutherford, Irene. Rich. John 



Warner Bros, rMcaso -ot 'Eoniund •Gmih- ; Sheltoh, Gfene Lockhart and Virginia 
rer pcoOuollon.-. J-ortiure-s- G<>r:Udlnc ..ri.l-/.- ,.w«)/llo- - ■ 



I.yiiri. 



I Weidler ,do,es as well as can be,e?: 

. . nii-PMp.i ' pected with- the rather static script 

X by-vinceni .siiernijiri. . Screei)i)ii>y by Biirry j material provided. -Direction by. S 
j/, PrlvcrB, from story by.^nlhony Berkelpy;. SvlVan Simori f»H<: to ffMPrate thf 



Kei-.ftld,- Thomuii Mlti-pell, : Jeffrev 
Jiimcs .<!lcph.pnsoi),. ..Mqna Marls. ' " 



goiishes .'Night Train,' and has the 
benefit - of some ot, its-, excellent 
players, including - 'Margaret Loclt-; 
wood arid Biisil-ltadf ord; Screen^ 
play is by, Sidney Gilliat, who did 
the scripts also for- 'Night Train' and 
'Thel Lady: Vanishes;' -.' 

There the comparisons ehdj and 
'The Girl In the .News' veers awiiy 
from the: British' secret service and 
becomes a case of murder mystery 
for: Scotland Yard attention. 

It is: the clever ^ directorial and 
script : twists which make the 111m 
unusually entertaining; Reed, has - a 
disarming faculty of employing bits 
of comedy as a means of. revealing- 
important plot ihcidentSi .His char- 
acter actors are carefully chosen and 
his murder trial scene, is cbnducted 
with the rigid dignity of a British 
court; 

In the .playing of- it Emlyn Wil- 
.liariis, in a villainous role, getis across, 
the murderous type v/hich he used 
in the stage version - of .'Night Must 
Fall.' Miss Lockwdod is° a registered 
nurse who escapes from under an 
almost perfect net of circumstantial 
evidence. Barry K.. Barnes is the 
defense attorney, Roger Livesey 
sustains the best* traditions ..^of the 
Yard.- . - 

Action is laid in presentr-day I^on^ 
don, and the nightly blackouts have 
a— part In shrouding some o.f . the 
mystery. Production as a whole is 
first class, against ample . setting.?, 
thbtograpliy and sound are up to 
best standards. . 

- This is the kind of film which con- 
tains nearly everything • that hun- 
-dreds.bf exhibitors : have been com- 
plaining -as lacking in much of the 
Hollywood product. Story is excel- 
lent picture material and. the acting 
far" bietter than average. -Because 
the players have yet to develop a 
following, exhibitors shy from book- 
ings, wjiereias some .enthusiastic ad- 
vance exploitation and buildup 
would be justified in audience satis- 
faction. - . 
'The (3itl- in the News' Is news. 

■ ' - . .Fltn.- 



accused of killing, a crbdlced . poli- 
tician: (Joe. Downing) -who has .beiefi: 
b()therihg Irene. Hervey, Meredith's 
girL- Miss Hervey, through a .series 
ot mirapulous hunches 'which only a 
.scriptei: at hi;s' wit's end" could have 
cbnjuredi : pirovcs, of course, that 
Meredith .clidn-t .do it. ;. She's aided 
by . a.s. motley a :buhch bf ■ characters 
as were ever; gathered tbgelher outr 
side : of ; s Saroyan ' play. They : in- 
clude Barry Fitzgerald (who ; will, 
probably -cause his .(Ex-fellbw Abbey 
Players i to wince)., : Raympnd WaU 
burn, • Robert Armstrong, - .Lewis 
Hbyi-ard and Esther .Ilalston, : HeTb. ■ 

JO Grande-.'-,:V. '■-.■'.: 



: ■(WITH 'SONGtS)'' 
rSOlh .CeiiCiiry-Kox -r«J'riisi> ar-.'.SoV,M.. )Virt-t- 
ZL>1 iirudui'tl'iiii. . FiiiiiirCB ■ t'osiir'. Horiiero. 
I'utrlMii.'MQi'lson, ' I'.'ynne J101)ci-ls," -Hlcartlo 
Oorlt--/.. Chr'ls-i'lp-JIurtiri; •■. Uiwpled by llcr- 
.bert 1. . I-ccds. : 5<orcpiij')liiy by Hiirold Hiick- 
M\iin ijinO -Stiimiifli .Ui- linKi-I. " --from -navel.- 
^i.'oiiqui.slftdor,' - bV - l.Cil.bcrl'pe -; FuUorlon 
tieroulil! -:cainirt a; t-'lm'rU's <"l«rka:: innsilml 
dirpclor, -tJmll- .NVwriiim.i-.edllor..: l^'rcd Alli-M. 
-l'revloWi',1 ill j'ulutT.' :Y.> 'fois. 'M. .'itj, 
liuijuInK' thiu'. • 7;j - .^i I.N.S, 
I'lKcn lyid...,-. ....':-.-. 



Itoslla-; , . . 

Marin.. 1,..-. 
Klcardii,.,:..-, . 
(iDrdllo....,. .". 
;l'a.l.ri!-;-, . . 
C-';u'lo» Hftrnhtlili-/. 
I'lin KprnuiuUi. . . . 
.MaiiiK l.,upcv.. . .-. 

t'urver. . ; , ,^ 

.\Tniiii:rl. ...... . i . 

.Miir'iitiul'. . . ; 
Miirta,.'.-. .'. 



. , . .Cesar Romor'o 
.'.Palrii-lit iMUrlsbn 
.-. . I.yiinu'.,llobprls;- 
.. .Ulcirdo :Coi!le;i 
.('hnN.-1'lii .Hiir.lli)- 
.'.-Atilrlcb -IJowker 
..1iisp|i)i McUoniild 
'I'dj-i) do I'oi-dobii 
. . . . .liicH I.'alP.ngu 
,ltiipli:\el Jiennelt 
. .Tl'i'vor Hardette , 
.'....'.Tom. I.,ondoo 
. .'.^ .-. .Evu:: -Puljf- 



niohnrds; .As.^s't 'illrei'tor. ■ F.lmer' De'fkpr. 
frreviewert at 'l''i>iir .>!lar. Wee. - :!3, '-4U. Iliiri- 
nlng time, 7,i. .VIIXS.- -'.-:' - 

Hetty FarrQ»vay;.^....Oeraldine FUz.iferald 
I'j-of. Ilctlry ToilhuiilCr.v...Thoma3 -MIU-)icll. 
Sllctloer Fn.rrowiiy . : , . . Jeffrey ^ynn 
l>r, Lawrence -^-.Icvi'iw. ; . .-James SlepbPiison 

.Ketli Mor'et. . : . . '. . . .-. ... Mohit; Miiri.*: 

District Atlurn',;-! 
-Kaunders. i 
Jriean Soiher^.;.. 



Afurtha;, . 

■l'elc'r.'iOn..V...' . ;-. . . 
■ Kfirrera ; . 
. I're'ntlss. .;. . .'.. 

Brook;:',., .'i... r..^. . . ; 

'J'ravln... 

Conw.ny. ... . , .: 

K(lvanv<l , IvrcindlliiK'. 

Ccohfi^.i. 

.Maid...,.!.. :•; 



Jonaih'an..' Mule' 
,v.tJavld Briii'p. 
..Tburstorf tlall. 
, .Mary . .^.-inriloii 
. ;Oobn F.MredKP 
iirardie Aibrib'hl 



the 

homihess intended in' the family in 
timacies . displayed; However, he 
also; -was biirdiened by a rather, dull 
script. :- ' ;. Walt. 



GIRL IN THE NEWS 

(BRITIStt-^'niAbE)''' '.-'--.-.; 
' 20tli - -Century-Fox- 'relea;<ie ■ • of. " Maurice 
Ostrep-Edward .Black -production. Jfenturps 
'MiirKornt . .T;(ick\vbod,i- Bqrr.v- . K, ' Koriip's, 
„i ,'^('-'"'-''""^^'""^'''-"'' Dtreclfld by, Carol Rt^pd.' 
. w'iiri'irn\ 'Vi'o'r'i^e'i;! L .Si-rflenpluy, by. ;$ldhey'.'Ollllii.t fronj iinVel b.* 
Wbldon -Uevliiii'n /.Kfiyz-Vlcki^rsv- cainera^ Olio. Iviinlut'ek: qdl-- 
... .DeWolf IIODiier ;:'''''■• ^- Dearllnp: music, J,<itilH- .I.evy. 
.\ lc.\'ah'.l«r Lockwiiill l'i'!'*\'!."'''!'_'"' ''''•"J*f,^'9." "r''5Iiv>li '''^" 
.. •'..,-. .'Friirik ltelc-lipr ; •!''- "'"' nunfllnB time, .77. AII>S. . .; . 
. ;.';,;..- , '.Willie :rji>sl'!.-^."'"*, i«r.Thai!i: . . ;.M;.ivfi(aret I.oi'kwoni] 



, .Elbby Tiiyloi- I if.t^l'?''''" Farlngdon . 

mil -jltatdei- 



Warriers figure they:.have.ah ar-:;,Tiidiih BentiVv.".";V 
tistic sleeper here,: arid intend giving I K'lwaid genii.py..i.... 
It a/ whirl: in -the, class houses in the ! T;;7'jK''^'ve •• 
key sppts -if or^ critical attention. ' -Pic-. -JJi'/^iVs.^ 
ture may . catchi. varied reactions jn 
~ thdse ' boo'kiilgS; - and. becbihe a .' con- 
troversial subject, for the: intelli- 
gensia; .But' it's far from' acceptable 



I^lRle-. 
Cnoi;.. 



Odd 

. linrry- K; Uri-rops- 
....Eniiyri-.-'iVllilatti.s 
i. ...^iRoger TJ-ve-'ey. 
, .- .Mar(ciii;e(la ..SvoH 
. ;'.\Vynrlb.m'i GoIiMp 
.... ;.B:i-<ill R;idf.ol-rV 
. Irpiie: -Hirndi 
,'-. . ...Mervyn..- Jiihiis 
. .-. . .-.Botty •JarVllhc'. 
Iv.-Uhleph: IIiirH'snn 



ProsecullM)f. Counsel... ...;■.;.;-.. F^ 

Another ASplendidly .dlrecWd .fllrfl 



f >Se Cof .a College pro-: I'S^^iSf C^OtlJlS?'* & ^1"^^^ 



San Francisco Dotks 

'Universal'.releai-'e of- Marxliall Gi-apt pro- 
dui'tipn. .: Stars Burges.s. ' MeredlUi, Irene 
JJeryey; Biirry. FltzRevald; feiiturcs lluy- 
inortd .Wa.lburh," 'Kslbtir; -ftalston; Robjert 
.Armatrpng.. IJewta -Hcvwat^d. ■ - Ulrirted - by 
.-v-i-thur 'Lublri. .- Original-- screenplay 'by 
'.Stanley .Crea Ruhln.iand Edmund ti.---Hart- 
nianni c:i:niera, Charles :V^iV Krtger;"edltbr, 
^^evnurd.• Biirton. A.I Rl.ilto, '. N.. Y., week 
Psc; :a^ MO. Runnln^^ .llme,' «« .MlNS, 



Ji)h.nny parhea'; ;. 

Kitty -.Thicy...; .% 

'J"h'<»...tcky... '..>;. '..;■.;. 
Adihlrnl AUdy. .'V. , .-^ 
Cainerpn-. . 
Sanfo'rd ..;:.■...;.-.',".-. 
Frances. March. i . -, 

Hi'ink'... ■■;...,..;...;■.-.'.; 

.MonCef MarCll. 

1'Viiue.'. .>-. r. , .... . 

( •on\vay; . . .;, . , ... . .-, ; 
Mlko^'i...., ..v.'.'....-.. 
District A ttoi-riey.; . . ; -. ;■ 
Cassldy .'. ; . ."...; , .'. ; .v. 



-^-Aeted— ■with mbro spirit . ahd>d.a-"'h, 
'Rbmancie of. the: Jlio Grande' might 
have been 'a very interesting and ex^ 
citing fllrh. . : The .J.otaie; . is . early - 
Arizona and the camera catches sorne 
i nip re.ssive views of the iange; The 
story -has' possibilitiefs :and the lead- 
irig. role is a good llclional character, 
of the Robin Hood ; type. It turns 
out to- be a routihe WcsCerrier in the 
general groove of the Ciscb Kid. 
series, featuring Cesar. Romero. A-i 
dualer; -;- - -' ' .■ . .V--; ■-■';'■',■ 

: .Cisco is one of the creations of . O. 
Henry, and Warner Baxter iii .1929 
won an academy 'Oscar'! for himself 
as the young outlaw who .righted 
wrongs of the oppressed .Without 
benefit of . the laW. 'Ih Old- Arizona' 
was the- Baxter vehicle, one of the 
earlier outdoor sound pictures. 

Nie.w version, is a iniiigling bf'.O. 
Henry and Katherine Fullerton .Ge- 
rould, virhose story 'Conquistador- is 
the basis fbr 'Romance, of the Rip 
Grande.;' .Harold Buckniart and Sam- 
uel G. Engel did the screenplay^ It 
deserves better ' treatment by the 
players, and the director. 
- Ot the; cast only Pedro de Cbfdobai 
as: the aged .Don Fernando, gwner of 
the greatest ranch in the southwest, 
handles -his lines with clarity. Some 
of the players, -atterhpting Spanish- 
English patois, miss the mark cOmr 
pletely. Romero is one. of the chief 
offenders. Unless actors are skilled 
in dialect it is better that they stick, 
if possible, to understandable Eng^ 
lisn. Audiences like it better. , 
. Lynne Roberts is ' youthful, sings 
sweetly , and has the necessary good 
looks for the heroine of an outdobr 
romance'. Patricia Morison and 
Ricardo Gortez are heavies; Chris- 
Pin Martin is in for. comedy.: Flin. 

M£LOpY RANCH 

■ (WITH SONGS) 

Republic release of So) - U. Slegel pro- 
ducclon, Stars ' Gene Au'try; features Jimmy 
Durante, Ann .Miller, Directed by Jo.seph 
Hatttiey. - Original- ucreenplay, Jack . Mof- 
fltt, F.. nugh Jterb^rt; special comedy ee-- 
quenies, SJd Kuller, - Ray Golden; editor, 
'Ije.<iter- Oi-lebeck;' raincra, Joseph August, 
musical, director, Raoul Ki-aushaar; songs, 
Jule . Styjie.: Rddia Cherkose.- At - Bryant, 
N". 1'., week Dec. 'i'n "101- .Running time; 

■80 MiNS.-: ■• . . 

Gene. . , -. ... .:. . .Gene Autj-y 

Cornelius J.- Coiirihpy. . . . . . Jlinmy Durante 

•iulle. . . . .... i ........ i . . Ann Miller 

. Mark llrtbuck . . . . . . : . .linrtdn MacT^an^ 

Veronica Whippe ,. 

.'' Bail)iini -.ii) -Mien. (Vera 'Vague) 
Pop. . . . , ; . .... . .TicorKe 'Gabby'- May^s 

-Tommy. S^iiunervllie, ....... . Jel:^mo.'Gb\vah' 
■T•enny....i .-, ..,..'...;.-;.-..-.;.,,.. Mary tee 

.Tasper- Wlldh«ck. .; : Joseph lawyer 

Bud -Wlldhack'.- Horace MacMahoii 



Frontier Days celebratjbri.! : Th« 
. town toughies appareritly .still oper- 
ate this commuhity along old pioneer 
lines and make things ; hot for., the! 
honbrary.: -sheriff, - hinting forcibly 
that he -is .overdue back in the big 
city,:-' 

. Insteiad, Autry decides;: to-: stay in 
Torp'edo, and get back into old phyi?. 
.cal : sha^e so he can stipaightcn out 
the town . gangsters; "Fhrs ii.e . does, 
.with : Ann Miller' (actress ■ on his' 
•radio show) -.remaining -in tlie Avest 
to cheer his efforts and his hearts 
; i Durarite.\accompatiies. 'Autry .and 
gpe^ for the whimsiiial ' schbolmarm 
' Vera Vague) 'in a big way; 1 There's 
a scene -in which Durante hqlp.s en- 
apt a 'little red riding 'hood' class-, 
room stunt that mUst . have been a 
:wpw before the. Haysitc's got hold bf 
it.' ■ Arid okay,- as is. ' : - '-' . . 
' Autry. sings IMelo'dy RaricK'. iiit. 
tune of the film; 'We Never ;Dream 
the Snme^Dream Twice;'- -niid 'Call of 
the Ganyoh.' . Part of 'Never Dte^m! 
is a:.duet . with. Miss Miller; .AU- of; 
these - -'tunes : are.' vbf hit cjilibre. 
Durante- sings in typical gtyle:pf his 
.owrir 'Vote :fbr Autry'; while :\Miss 
Miller has an'added'mufiical entry in 
'My Cal; Sal,' which -pl-eludes her 
tip dance,'. :-o- .■•'.:■.';,' V-: 
'': ' Supporting; . this ■-threesome, ; . Vera 
•Viague (Barbara Jo -Allen ), radio 
comedienne, • i»s the schoolteacher; 
Jerome "dowari,. ' as the sponsor; 
George 'Gabby' Hayes, Horace Mac- 
Mahon, and Mary Lee, as hi.*! daugh- 
terj are standout,: Comedy sequences 
by Sid KuUerrRay Golden, . are : ex- ' 
celient;; JpSeph Santley; rates a bow 
for : his . neatly .. paced :- directibn. 
Joseph August is okay phptoj|,'raphing,. 
outdobr. scenes but .mediocre with his . 
clOseiipB;-. - .^; : - ' --vWeari 

BOWERY BiO% 

.Bepu'blio ''/release . . . Armiuid - .Si-li.Tefet- 
productlon.-. .' . Featul:ea. Dennis O'Koc.rei -- 
Louise "Calii'itb'eU, - Jimmy ' Lydon, I'lelen - 
yinsori. '.Directed .by: -.^Vllllam ' .Morgan.. 
Scrcciiplay by'- Robert ChaiiinV.Hnrry Kroii- : 
inqh,. Kugene Solow from orlKlnal by-.Sinv - 
Fuller. -Bidhey .Sutherland;: camera,- 'l£i-ii<<8t . 
Miller; editor, -Bdward Mann;' niuslv, - Cy 
Feuer; .' -Previewed la -. Projection' '■ Room, 
>J,- Y., Dec . 27,' '40. Running, lime.. 71 . 



Tom 6'Hora, .-'. 
Anhe Cleliry;.. 
Sock . Dolnh ..... ^ , ... ; 

Pegpy -VVInters, , : . . . 
J. li, -Ma^on. ...'..<<. ^ 

Blubber. UMllins...'.. 
Ml*. Hanaen..,. 
Battler......-,.'.^,.'.:. 

Dr. (^rane. , > i . . . .-. 

Dn Axel .'AVlnters,-. 
Dr. George -Wlnteri, 
Flopa.'...'. 



i.;.Donilts a'Keefe 
!...'l^uuiso C-i'mpbell 
. . . .:,.llmniy -Lydoa 

.-. .. .Hclwv Vinson ' 

. .'. . . .noncrPryor 

.......Pnvll Hur«t 

... . Kdward' 'Gargan - 

.....;. Jnhri Kelly 

. .-.Selrnel- -Jhcksoo ' 
.'Howard Hickman. 
.Frederick- Burton' 
., . : . .'. , ; J'uCk. Carr 



-Judge ;Henderji.on: 
.Slirn*. .'; : • ^. .'^j, , 



. . fin rence; Wilson 
..\Vlll|ain;'J3encoict 



. .<Buri;ps-<i'Mcred)lh' 
..,.:'... I rene Herve.v 
.. . Bari'y..:FlUKcral(l 
, Raymond: -Walbui-n: 
...Robert. ArmslrOhg 
. . . '. . Lewis ;-Ko\Vard 
, . .' .-^IJistMer -Kala.toh . 
..-.;>..;Krt t;aj'Kan 

. i -.-i EdiPn iv ley, 

... . . . .'.'Don . Zoirt'yn; 

;.;..troliri C':i'ijf|)iiell 
,:. — Glenn' Scrahge < 
.\Vllllam Davidson 
. ..- . Juaeph. Downing 



ican- ' theatre; 




kfl^'ng of -;., "•''eless person .will; be ; ago at the Globe; New York. - to cre^ 
justifiable, in. every i-espect— is .not ( ate 'excitemeht in- the trade a.s a pb- 
p.articularly : :palatable^ preachment teritial (and heretofore' oveflboked ). 
to ,$et before impre.-Jsibnable, picture ' heavy grOs.ser; when given any kind 
audiences, ■ Despite the, profs switch: bf showmanship breafc 'Night'Train" 
ih altitude at the finish, the priginal . has.:been on the exchange shelvef; 
premise cannot .be .-50 easily dis- | since jtiid-Octbber. It has had 
cartled. - Picture, originally made ; plenty of ' cancellations and few 
-several months ago as 'Inyitatibn to ibpbitrngs.^^'. " 

. Miirder,'. went back for revisions, on ' 'The Girl .in the News' contains the 
edict.pf the Hays .coders/ It's still a- same distinctive quality of suspense- 
..Pfbblem for iridividlial \exhibltofs to: ful melodramatic actibri as distih- 



!Bad ; scriptihg and.' bad: , direction 
have carried 'a number.- ib^ go'od play- 
er.s off :the:. deep. erid of Sari^Frah- 
ciScb; Dbcks.' A. few ;bf the per- 
formers,.: notably Burgess Meredith; 
haye jiianaged tb keep, afloat: but, uh-' 
fortunately:, mbst.bf them, have fbuhd 
the chains too- heavy and. have gone 
down .in a sea bf . hami Result, .e^s 
.' might be imagine^i is one -.pf the 
; low. points of. the/iuh-'entlfilm-sea-^ 
I son;.'. ' ■ ■ ■- '•...■■ ■ .-'.'. 
i- :Plo.t'. is. so cluttered up -With talky 
I characters'- it never gets a, cKahce to 
j'rjiove.' And' if it . did, .it" prbbably 
J.wbuldn't know. Avherie; to go; the 
story is .so diflhsely told; beginning, 
with .uts, efforts to introduce the 
characters by .half a doien discon- 
nected .sceries,: it .becomes almost an 
unwittirig montage in. its effect. It's 
a lesson in how not to 'make a pic- 
ture.' 

'Yarn; In the wharf-rat setting sug- 
:gested by . the title, finds Meredith 



■ Gehfe Autry: receives crack suppoi"t 
frpni Jimmy Durahte.and Ann Miller 
in his. newest^ .musical ' western. And. 
thie combo helps the- singing -cow-, 
boy star, who has: zoomed< up' in 
popularity .'throughout the world in 
recent'. y.ear5, td. fashion, a vehible 
Whiph; will spell added boxoffid'e 
y/;ith his fbllowirig. Fbr dyed>-in-ihe-: 
wobl "western meller fans, 'Melody 
Ranch' may not "be as .actibhfiil as- 
previous Autry specials.. V However,' 
the comedy, sequences overfcome the 
.'handicaps'.'' ': ■ t^'-:-'/-] 

The :most pleasant surprise of the 
■whole vehicle is how . furiny Jimmy 
Durante prp'ves as announcer tp; the 
cowboy radiO' star in the story.; The 
schno2f has never been funnier on the, 
screen', the new surroundings: -mean- 
ing nothing ;."io his typical ■ line: of 
wj.secracks- and rhahgling;' of the 
.English' language. Ah: idded ''eyei 
bperter- performance is provided by 
Ann Millet'.i^gile tapster from ■vaude- 
ville '-'fthd -musical, com&dy. -.She .eri- 
hahceg • her. rapid-fire hoofing With 
forthright .singing ' vvjth .Aiitry - and. 
a real . propensity for developing- £(s 
an .a'ctre.ss. .:'''::...'. '.'.: '. ''."■--;.,. -' . '; 
. Ihs'tead '.of 'the customary creaking 
M^estern -plot, scriptets Jack' Mbffitl 
and F. , Hugh. Herbert use a sponsored 
radio cowboy warbler as a -wedge 
in' familiar.' sagebrush :. surround- 
ings.' It seems- that the. folks ..barck 
in Torpedo, Arizona : (put jri the •vyide' 
open . spaces) - want Atitry to . return 
^nd becoine- hbnora'i:y ;6heriff at the 



. 'Bowery Boy' proves one thing- U 
nothing else^it Isikes more than cap- 
able players and aii archaic .tale of. 
Manhattan's": Bowery to. make a half- 
way acceptable picture; Vehicle has 
okay secondary talent, but. .apart 
from an apathetic story, for one rea- 
son : or another Dennis O'KeefiB, 
Louise Campbell, Jimmy "Lydon and 
Helen Vinson, in - the leads, never 
arouse, more than casual: interest. 
Direction, adaptation and" all-around' 
values: relegate this one to minor 
dual setups. 

. Xauhched in a strictly , artificial 
representation of N. Y.'s tenement 
district, the aH too-familiar pattern, 
of, the young, doctor; assigned tp a 
Bowery clinfc and . surmounting his 
environs, is laboriously unfolded. 
Food-poisohlng epidemic -with the 
new- doctor and the little Bowery 
toughie involved, the nurse-ahd-the-i 
rsopiety deb dual heart interest, -and 
braggard heroics of this, .same little 
juvenile gang leader are dragi^ed in. . 
N^early every ■ character, . excepting 
the Bowery harige.rs-on, screams of 
artificiality; . - 

Nurse Anne. Cleary (Louise Camp- 
bell), speaks: crisply and i^ever 
arouses sympathy^ Tom O'Hara (he 
came frqni- the Oklahoma dust bowl, 
so the script says7 is the young medr 
ico, played with tons of enthusiasm 
but little . else . by Dennis O'Keefe. 
Main cog in thie plot is his signing off 
food ^certificates. Helen Vinson por- 
trays th« socialite femtne in .stilted - 
fashion.. Fourth member of this in- 
cbngrupus array is :- Sdck Dolan 
(Jimniy Lydon); .depicted as an in- 
ciirable'brat bf the slums. Originally 
he's vicious but softens imder. th* 
tendeir hand of -.nurs^ Cleary,:. 
- With these; Characters, the support 
heacVd by .Roger Pryor, who's badly , 
miscast . as a racketeer; Paul Hurst, . 
okay as a gangster fehce;; Johii.. 
Kelly, Jack .- Cafr and :iSelmer' " Jaek- 
sPh 'manages .to -salvage a- few -pl'aus^'i 
ible .rtiohnfents; Clirhax • when :ihfe 
hoodl.lini pals.' of , Sock; IDdlari 'rally *to 
rescue hini from ' the mpbsters . is: a 
cleverly conceived ; bit .of meiodra- 
matics. ." But It comes too late. -One: 
scene shows the . society , feinme's 
Sunday evening reception with; .the; 
'Park; Central Hotel' sign, plainly " 
trained ' ift' the backiglrbtindi followed 
by a closeup Just in case anybody 
failed tb' hpte: it in - the first : shot- 
■:■ '' .'■'■■ -:. . Wear. ■ 



Phahtom of- Ghiiialownv 

- Monogram, release ot Paui: Malvern:-. p.r(jr. 
diictron> 'Stars .Keye Luke; foatiirtfa L«lu'«r 
Long, Grant Wlthera. . . Directed by Tlilh 
Rosen.- 'Story.- . Hugh Wiley;: .tdn'ptatlo'n,.. 
JdStiBh Wc,«t; edttor, Jack'OKlFv-)e: :»!bolOKT' 
raphy", - Fred - Jdck'triah^ Jri -.\t -.N'cw Vork;: 
X. Y.-. dual, week Dec. 'J8, '^0. • Hunnl^ig, 
•limp, .61 .M1N.S. : . • ;'.-.'. 

. ;-. .';.;-.. '. . Kp'yo Luke 
,.;.,...'.-.-. lihiiis- T»nK 
..Or.-iiit. WillirrH 
.Pinil .'ilr-Vi-y. 
:...';.;.f'rmrl<-K MMl.-P 
. ; .Virginia' (.•al'pcnler 
... . . ;..'.Ch;irlcs Frustr' 



J)Mimy -Wohg.:; 
Win LQn...,.i.'., 
Rlreiit,'... .';.-'.•...'. 
Grady,,,...'..',.; 
J.)r, .Uenf.on.'. .,, 
fjoHlae Ilentoh,. 
John' Dllsdn...., 



Though it follows a familiar Hetec- 
tioii- formula, 'Phantom of China- 
' (Continued on page 16) -,. 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 



13 




^^^^^L ' ^^^^^^^^^^^ 

1^ 



••tM 



HIGH S/ERRA 

ftr>' (tarring . ■ « 

IDA tUPINO 




BOGART 



At(iW'(^v^% Arthur Kennedy •joan\«fli« 
Hwt^ Hull • Henry Trovers 

.; d?r6«j<^jby RAOUL WALSH . 
Screen :l9dy' bVif/«[hn Huiton and W. R. .Burfi«tt; 
from 1he'<Hia*«l tV W. Rl BurntH. 



16 PICTU|IE$ 



Wednesday, January 1, 19 U 



Despite F.D.R.'$ Sunday Speech, 




President Rposevelt's. speech- oh 
the air Sunday niiBht; (29) ,: caHed :top 
big a show 'for theatres lo' contend 
with,, played' havoc with, business at 
the boxoftices all. , the coun- 
. try, -but. advance 'figures . would in- 
dicate' that, grosses generally on the 
final weelc. of 19.40 will be well jihead 
of the final seVeti days of 1939. . For 
the week it may average 5% better 
when iall the' figures, are In. 

.According to operators, the week 
before /Ghrislmaf was behind the 
corresponding stanza . 1939. but 
better jgrpsse^ during the, rest of 
- the month puts December out front; 
when compared .with last year, . by 
around .2 V4 or 3%, ■ Pointed ouV.ln 
theatre operating circles that Christr 
mas shoppinig seemed to be more 
bunched the week before the holi- 
day than in prior years, resulting in 
some cilies in the closing of doors to 
department stores on several vocca- 
sions because of inability to handle 
additional customers. This occurred 
In Detroit,. Chicago ahd other spots. 
Also noted that the department 
stores did a bigger, Decembeir busi- 
ness this year, than in 1939. 

In the dow^ntown picture theatres 
Sunday night . (29) ,. the competitioifl 
of the Robsevelt speech, which 
nearly everyone: wanted .to hear, 
proved devastating regardless of the 
■• pull of the shows,. It was estimated 
by managers that from 9 o'clock on 
the drop was about 50% of the nor. 
mal trade to be expected on a Sun 
day evening. The president's speech 
: went on at 9:30. . . 

How It Dropped . 
Ordinarily Sunday night business 
Is strong though froin 9 o'clock on it 
is usually around 25% under the 
grosses shown from ^ to 9 o'clock. 
The patronage at one of the large 
downtown Tiouses Sunday night . (29) 
gives an idea. House played to 1,100 
people, froin T to 8; 1,050 from 8 to 9; 
600 from 9 to 10 and only 200 from 
10 to 11. In the Greater New York 
nabes, the drop . varied from only 
around 10% in som.e sections, to as 
fliuch as 50%. . 

Greater. Ni Y. is claimed to have: 
been off more Sunday eve as a re-' 
Euli of .Roosevelt's, speech than the 
t-est of the country though repiprts 
would indicate that the effect at the 
b.o. ranged from 25 to 50%. When 
all the figures, are in, 'it is believed 
they will show that downtown thea- 
tres suffered more than nabes.. One 
reason for this may have been the 
ability, to catch, nearby shows, ini- 
mediately after the Roosevelt broad- 
cast whereas trips downtown at that 
late hour presented a problem. 

The N.Y. legit theatres were seem. 
Ingly unaffected by the president's 
address. Among the eight shows 
giving Sunday night performances, 
all but two drew better business 
than for the preceeding Sunday (22) . 
That indicated an. influx of visitors 
for New Year's. 



Fox, St. Loo, Stuck Up 
For $1,290; Blackout 
Also on Same 



St. Xbuis. Dec; 31 
A pair of .stickup). men held up the 
treasurer and doorman of Fanchpn: 
5f Maltb's Fox oh Xmas night and 
made: a . successitul getaway with 
$1,29,0, . a portion of the day's re- 
ceibts. The holdup occurred at lD:10 
p.m. on the mezz^mihe floor near the 
treasurer's pff ice.; Lowell- .Smith, thte 
treasurer,- and Elmer Esrock, dbpr 
main, ; vvere ' approaching Smith's of- 
fice to . put the dough away fpr the 
night when .the- bandit<i; lurking hear 
a stairway; covered the pair with 
guns and -ordered theni into the 
officer 

From a. box Snvith was carrying 
the robbers snatched |683 and from 
an unlocked saf.e another $607. While 
Smith and . Esrock stood in a. cprnfer 
the robbers disappeared, probably 
escapihg down a fire escape; . Jahe 
j^Iesenbrihic, b.;o. cashier, told cops 
she recalled two men asking how 
long the house would be open. The 
closing was later than usual' due to 
the theatre being dark for 55 mins, 
when the juice -failed. A good de 
scription of the bandits Was fur^. 
nished by Virgil T. Hurst, a picture 
checker, ^yho sjpiw the men ascending 
the. stairs towards Smith's office at 
about the time the stickup occurred 
Cops obtained . a fingerprint clew 
from the' money box one of th<a men 
handled. This is the first theatre rob- 
bery here in more than a year. 

Electric flashlights were pressed 
Into, service ?^t the Fox', the same 
night when the juice failed: due to 
an act . of vandialism; and Will Os- 
borne, band Tnoestrb, led the cus 
tomers. in the crowded house through 
a 52 min. session of community 
warbling until repairs were made 
Chad Hanna' was being shown when 
the house went dark. The manage 
ment recruited ushers from its 
nearby Missouri and. St. Louis and 
they held the ' fliashlights on the 
stage for the tootefs. An emerigency 
connection for juice was made with 
a nearby establishment where the 
current was still oh find the show 
continued. 
An- investigation revealed that an 



IJptown, Racine, Wis., 

Siiffers a Holdup 

Racine, Wis., Dec. 31. . 
Just a.fter Thomas J. Daly, niah- 
ager of the Uptown, had removed 
$185 . from the . boxoffice and, ac- 
compahied by Gvahville Calhoun, 
assistant manager, iand Eugene Piau-. 
graza,.head usher, taken it to his own 
inner.pffice to put in the safe, a piair 
of holdup: men pushed their way in. 
Jeanette Joihnson, cashier, came in 
and the banditi lined her up with the 
three men.; 

After seizing the inoney. th^ rob- 
bers, both; about 23, ordered Daly at 
point ■ of; gun to open the safe. While 
tie fumblei .'With! the combination 
the holdupk. meii . became ' nervous, 
backed out of the office and fled by 
a side exit, failing to get the biggier 
part of ; the Weekend receipts.. .: 

NEBRASKA'S Ic PER 
ADMISSION TAX IDEA 



New Outlook in 1941 For 
Coast Theatres, Exchanges 

Los Angeles, Dec. 3l 
Theatre and exchange improve- 
ments in the Los Angeles area cbh 
tinues with substantial ; budgets 
okayed for the facelifting alterations, 
Several theatres are being equipped 
with new marquees, chief amonig. 
these being the Orpheiirh down tbwn; 
where around .$20,000 has ^already 
been spent. Fox West Coast's Par- 
ambuht in Hollywood, long a stibse 
qiient rim house,,, is to have a new 
marquee .35 part of general improve 
ments to. be started after New Year's, 
and in addition will be renamed.' 

. Paraimourit exchange here is being 
given a general overhauling; Modern 
booking booth will be installed and 
various departinents shifted; 

Pfix. Egyptian, . ftpllywood boule- 
vaird ace; ;subsequent run, was 
equipped witft new R(5A sound dur 
Jng tlie past week and a complete 
•new booth equipment installed. 

Al HahsPn' Is latest ' Los Angeles 
area house operator to go into the 
bowling business. He will start erec-p 
tton of a modern plant in Sah DiegO 
■Within , the next couple of weeks, 
planning to spend aroUnd $300,000 on 
the veriture. 

Myke Lewis has resigned as sailes 
- head for the Harry Sherman Hop- 
aloiig Cassldy productions, distrib 
uted by Paramount, and\ after a 
month's vacation will announce a 
new affiliation. 



Film Reviews 



sContlAuea from page 14; 



Phantom of ^Chinatown 



Lincoln, Dec. 31. 
Films, as usual, seem set foSi'sthe 
heaviest- attack of the amusement 
fratiirnity as Nebraska*s third ses- 
sion of the unicameral legislature 
makes ready to gbi into iaction after 
the first of the year. 

At that, only .one bill is surej Senv. 
E. M, Neubauer, Who has ' reached ' 
put with attempted slaps; before,; is 
already advocating a tax of l.c oh 
every., ticket sold at the pix box- 
office. , It is not the usual gradur 
ated, percentage rulied .tax, but will 
be ic on every : pasteboard, be they 
5c or 50c tickets. None is exempt. 
At this nioment, the tax is aimed at' 
films,, bui; in the process of' being 
routed, it'll probably pick up all the 
amusement biz along the way. 



PAE MEETING KOUTINE ; 

Paramount board of directors met 
Monday; afternoon (30) at the horhe 
office, but it was chiefly routine. 

Another meeting of the directorate 
is scheduled for Jan. .26, 



automobile skid chain had been 
thrown acrbss bus bars, exposed cop- 
per strips connecting various circuits 
supported oh steel frame work at an 
outdoor sub-station of the Laclede 
Light. & Power Co., several miles 
away, causing a short circuit. Apart- 
ment houses^ hotels, restaurants and 
homes, in the midtown and northwest 
sections of the city suffered an In 
voluntary blackout with Xmas can- 
dles coming in for a strong play until 
the' repairs were made. 



town' is sufficiently. ihteresUng as a 
lowei-^bracket ■ meller ; to.: >yari:ant 
more than casual consideratioh from 
the coimtry's accounts, notably, those 
under a double-feature iiolicy needl- 
ing such supporting teatures as this 
to fin playdate requirements. : . In 
lesser situations, .the .piicture might 
pa.'ss muster singly. 

Paul ; Malvern, the producer, has 
given the story and his cast adequate 
productional backgrounds, satisfac- 
tory settings ahdv technical attention 
worthy of; tbe average 'B* thriller 
of. this type. In- Phil Rosen he. chose 
a; dii:ector Who has carried through 
for the best results obtainable with 
the : material at hand. The yarn 
moves along at a sprightly clip and 
produces plenty of action along de- 
tectivie; mystery lines. plus.sustaining 
suspense ih an admirable fashion. ' 

Adapted by Joseph West, 'Phantom 
of Chinatown' has as its basis the 
Jhmes Lee Wong: magazine series by 
Hugh Wiley in which ah Oriental 
figures as a super-sleuth. As done 
for the screen, Wong, played by 
.Kaye Luke, is not always free from 
suspicion himself, nor arc numerous 
©thers • out of the. range of doiibt. 
Luke, billed over the picture, was 
formerly in the Charlie Chan series 
at . 20th-F6x. . He pictures " well, i.s 
along suave lines . and has a clear, 
incisive voice. The girl- bpposite 
him, a secretary in the household of 
an archaeologist who has been 
poisoned, is. Lotus Long, an attrac- 
tive Euriasian who also has fine . dic- 
tibn along Americanized lines. There 
is only the faintest suggestion . of 
romantic interest, Ho>vever; . 

Plot concerns the discovery of a 
scroll on an expedition:, into Mon- 
golia Which tells where a large oil 
deposit lies and the efforts of the 
cameraman. Who commits two mur- 
ders, to. obtain this for himself. The 
showing of a film, record of the 
expedition at a lecture, ..When the 
discoverer of the tomb of an. ancient 
Chinese emperor, is poisoned, has 
been cleverly; handled with 'cuts' 
irom the lecture to China and back 
again. • 

Grant Withers plays a police of- 
ficer in Sah Francisco, locale of the 
action, but what a funny little gun 
he carries. It's the type that might 
be found in a lady's handbag instead 
of on a ;cop. Lessers are Paul 
McVey, Charles Miller, Virginia Car- 
penter and John Dilson, all satisfac- 
tory though not of great importance. 

Chax. 



Wise, and Minn. Indie Exhibs Unite 
In Fight on Jukers and Jackrabbits 



.Milwaukee, Dec. 31. 
Although indie exhibs of Wiscon- 
sin and Minnesota have long Worked 
in harmony on matters of . mutual 
concern, a closer unity than ever is 
evident from the acceptahce by the 
Badger organization of an invitation 
from Fred Strom, executive secre- 
tary of Northwest Allied, to hold a 
joint meeting in Mihneapolis early 
in January tb maP out; plans for a 
-fight on juke, pictures and also on 
jfickrabbit exhibs Who, with fly-by- 
night 16 mm, shows, are wreaking 
hav<JC among legitimate' operators 
throughput the northwest. 

Legislatures of both Wisconsin and 
Minnesota will go. into session with 
the beginning, pf the new year, and 
the indies of. both states; will work 
along closely similar liheis in put- 
lining and;' plugging for legislation 
designed to put an end to harmful 
competition. Ifhe juke pictures are 
still an unknown quantity, iibt yet' 
having been put pn . the market here, 
but the exhibs are already . Worried 
abput the possibilities and intend to 
take iprestalling' action; along, legal 
lines.' ' , . 

First local distributor ; for : the 
spundies here is Vic Man.hardt, Inc., 
Which, Has , been giving previews; for 
prospective .bp'erators, and it is esti- 
mated that there will be 125 mar 
chines; in choice spots about Milwau- 
kee couhty . early In 1941, shoWihg 
the products of Globe Productions, 
Inc., of which James Roosevielt is 
president. An ordinance has already 
been introduced in the Milwaukee 
common council by Alderman T. E. 
Wedemeyer to regulate the jukers. 

., Jackrabbiting In : Winter Also 

Jackrabbit .shiwmen, against whom 
legislative pi-otectioh will be sought, 



in other ^ears have flourished chiefly 
in the summer months, but this win 
tei- they have continued operations 
in rented halls and store buildings in 
the . smaller communities. . Shows are 
fre6 to the public, and the operators 
get their revenue from local mer- 
chants who pay for slides to be 
shown on the Screen; A carieful check 
this last summer showed audiences 
of as many as 2,500 people drawn to 
a single free shoW» mahy of them of 
course potential customers for legi 
timate exhibitors. Bootlegged early 
releases of big pictures, transferred 
to 16 mni. film, hiave been rushed in 
by. some of the jackrabbits prior' to 
the release dates of the same pictures 
in the legifimate theatres. 

One of the big fights in the Wis 
consin legislature Will be on the at- 
<tempt being sponsored by the Wis 
consin State Medical society to re 
establish daylight sa:vlng in the state, 
although the; ..idea was decisively 
defeated by referendum after a trial 
setting back of the clocks some years 
ago. ■ ■•; ■ ■ 



. ; . Phouo^s Olstrib; Hypo : 
Preparing to turn" up the steam on 
delivery of .their film jukeboxes, 
after the Coin Machine Exposition In 
mid-Jahuary, outfit, operated .,\ty 
Frank Orsatti and Sam Sax was in 
cprporated at Albany last week. It' 
labeled F'honovision pistribtition ;Co, 
Inc. 

Sax will attend the Expo in Chi 
cago, which opens Jan. 13. Orsatti 
is on the Coast: where , arranjgements 
for film are expected to. be made, 
No' officers of the new ' corporation 
have been elected. Nominal direc 
tors In papers filed in Albany are 
all employes of Phonbvision's attor 
ney* 



Want- arbund- the house for long. 
Others in . the group, are Donald 
Haines, David Gorcey and Sunshine 
Sammy Morrison, a colored kid. who 
could be used to better advantage. 
Romantically paired are - Duve 
O'Brien . and Joyce Bryant, latter 'a 
graduate frphi westerns: - They • 
render little untp !That Gang, of 
Mine;'. As the elderly colored geiit . 
who owns the race.hbr.se, Clarence 
Muse gives a gbod performappe. 
' '. : :■■ /Char. 

YOU WILL REMEMBER 

(BRITISH MADE) 
(WITH SONGS) 

London, Dtc. 2, . 
. $rU|.ih : IJon Felensa of. .Im-k \<;n hidtia.-. 
/production. Stars Robert' Moi-ley, ioiiilvn / 
W'lUlftiiiiS. ■; DIrcoUd :liy, .liicU HnyiiM.iid. 
Story,- I^ydla Jlayward; ail()l(l<in:il 'm.i>u(-8, 
■ Chrlatophf r Mbrley.'-'.Sew'eU, Rlokps.: 'ciiincrn, 
Henry. HarrlB; . ■ Prevlewoil iil ' I'.ymiKint- 
Brltlsh prlvntf" thNitfe, London, I)i^i'. 'l>; mo. • 
Tom Uarrott (Leslie ■Slu'urt).. . Uol)(M.t M()ili')r 

hrtb SyntbrV 

I'Ulnllne Terrlas 



KU^ene Strnti<(n 
Flarl of Potter. , . , 

rol)y 

A(r. Cnrr. , ■ 

.MRnor Foil. ........ 

I'nc Barrett . «..'. . ... ; 

Mr^. Darrett. . 
Younff 'Tom Burrett. 
Young Bob -Sinter., , .. 



. ..... .liilyn V.'illiums 

.■;.-.-...l)ii.rothy H->-pon 
; Toni KlDpliisa . 

NIrhnlna l'hl|i|ia 

...Gerli-iidc MiisKruve 
;....,< 'hnrles l.rtiiux 

. . : ..Minn .1<>nyM 

...... ..CMiin'lrM. Victor 

...... ■..MnlvcQ'.NsIll 

. . -.-Mniirloe KMly 
.Toddy McDon-ell 



THAT GANG OF MINE 

Monosrum relense of Som Katzmnn pro- 
duction, - Peatut'cs Bobby Jordan,- Leo 
Gorcey, Clarence . Muse, Directed by 
Joseph H. Lewis, Story, Alan Whitman; 
adaptation, : Wllllnm Lively! editor, Carl 
Plerson; photoir, Robert Cllne and .-llnrvey 
Gould, At Slrund,. Brooklyn, week Dec 
28, '40. Riinnlngr time, 61 MINS. 

Danny. i , .Bobby Jordan 

Mugga. v,.:^ ■ . .Leo Gorcey 

Ben, .. ... ........Clarence Mnne 

Knuckle^. ...... ^ , . Day^ O'Urlcn 

I.rf>ulse. . ...... . ... ....<....',,. .Joyce Rrynht 

Skinny ., Donald Ha Ines 

Peewee. .David Gorcey 

Scruno.w .Sunnhlne fiamthy Morrison 

Algy. .-. . .Eugene Francis 

liT. Wilkes ............Milton KIbbce 

Mrs. Wilkes........ .....Hazel Keener 

Btfichla..; ichard R. Terry 

Nick W llbur . Alack 



Racetrack stories and the exploits 
of the 'Dead End Kids are both leav- 
ening oft but aside from that, Sam 
Katzman's production of 'That Gang 
of Mine' is so generally lacking in. 
merit, that it will have trouble get- 
ting dates, either in number or qual- 
ity. The double-billers, which re- 
quire a lot of product and buy vir- 
tually everything that comes along, 
looks like its best market. 

Katzman obviously has not "spent 
a lot of money on his picture, with 
result it may come put on the right 
side of the ledger for producer and 
distributor regardless of its lack of 
entertainment value, . production 
quality or story treatment. Varn is. 
bbvioup all the way and the plot as' 
well as dialog fail to impress. It 
is also somewhat contrary to logic, 
including that the boss ' wbich- wins 
a big stake race ever could have 
figured to do so considering every-;" 
thing. He is the charge of a penni- 
less old Negro who has reared him 
from colthpod and manages to 
scrape upi. ia few bucks to get him 
into training and into pne pf the 
most important stake events held in 
thoroughbred racing. 

In addition to the poor photogra- 
phy of a couplie races, the film is 
technically under standard. Action 
is dragged out to; the point of: bore-, 
dpm witl> detail; and the antics of 
the Dead Enders for apparent pur- 
poses of comedy Value - prove irk- 
some quickly. The tough kids . with 
their gutter manners and wisecrack- 
ing are still far f roni being symp>a- 
thetic characters. 

Story Is built around Leo Gorcey 
who wants to. become a jockey but 
loses his nerve when getting ..the 
chance. It- ends on an inspiration 
Gorcey gets to become a fighter for 
ah intended comedy twist. A veteran 
among the Dead Enders work- 
ing closely "with Gorcey is : Bobby 
Jordan, whom Grandma wouldin't 



Celluloid version of the life of 
Leslie Stuart, the English composer, 
sees ia depiction fulsome in authen- 
ticity. Viewed as drama it perhaps 
suffers from the too irigid adherence. 
For niany, thouigh;' re-preation pi 
composers' hit . melodies will more 
than ' help gloss screen weakness^ 
plus a terrific emotional wallop in 
the last few hundred feet to lift it 
into a .smash favorite. Its melody 
time will help picture a lot in over- 
seas markets. :: Musical end has been 
jperfectly handled here for tuneful 
arrahgemcnt<i . as ear-jjleasing as 
Stuart himself would have wi.shed. 

Screenplay from Lydia Hay ward's 
story builds . episodically, tossing a 
lot of footage into composer's- child- 
hood, which materially, detracts froip 
pace and interest. Once over that 
hurdle, film unfolds a steady devel- 
opment of Leslie Stuart from time of 
his first published song, through his 
lieyday and subsequent slide, climax- 
ing with his appearance in vaude- 
ville. Direction of " Jack Raymond, 
rather stereotyped throughout, has 
seized on these latter scenes for 
class presentation offsetting weak 
megging of earlier footage. In fair- 
ness to Raymond it can be said he 
had little help from the screenplay 
in meaty stuff on which to get a grip. 

Playing standard is evenly spread, 
cast all working for best results. 
Roliert Morley's treatment of . the 
star role may be questioned by 
many of the oldtimers criticizing his 
stiff ahd Very stagey characteriza- 
tion. Player!s artistry though is 
unique, in investing those final nos- 
talgic scenes with class histrionics. 

Tom Finglass carries the Eugene 
Stratton role in nice style; his war- 
bling is efltectlve ('Lily of Laguma,' 
'Dolly , Daydream,' 'Sue,' etc) plus • 
an unusually keen understanding of 
the part. Emlyn Williams gives a 
neat portrayal as Bob Slater, com- . 
poser's lifelong friend, although 
made little of and rather at waste 
in the .scripting. Film carries hardly 
any femme angle; Dorothy Hyson 
and Gertrude Musgrove being in for 
catchy bits. 

Production Is costly, well holding 
up its- end. Music by Grenadier 
Guards Band does more than . its 
share to, help it along. Camera of 
Henry Harris is standard. 



More Camp Theatres 



Brbwiiswood, Texa.s. Dec. 31. 

A huge tent theatre with wooden 
side walls, seating 2.076,. has been 
completed here at Camp Bowie for 
the Soldiers which ate expected in 
this training site within the next sev- 
eral months. Lieut. C. L. pickerspn; 
will be in charge of_ . house opera- 
tions, . _ ■■ ".'-. 

Bookings will, be made from, the 
United States Army^-Motioh Picture 
Service office in Dallas. 



2dj Preparedness House 

Garland, Texas, pec. 31. 
With an airplane factory busy here 
turning' out planes in the plans for 
national defense; and a sudden migra'- 
tion of workers here, H. R. Bisby has 
opened a- second house . here.' He 
operates the Garland . also. 



; Northwcflt's 1,500-Stater 

/ Seattle, Dec. 31. 
Announced that Evergreen aff.iliatev, 
at Bremerton, the navy city, across 
the Sound from Seattle, will build 
$250,000 class icinema in that town, 
Frank Newman, president, reports 
latest ideas in designing of this 1,500- 
seater. 

Bremerton Is crowded with navy 
folk and workers, as defense is cn 
the upbeat. 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 



17 




If) PICTUHES 



Wednesdays Januioiry 1, 1911 




Detroit, ; Dec; 31. , 

Despite 3' .fight: :by theatr0~ men 
h^re, Detroit's new zoning ordinahce, 
\vhich: on :iis. jjarking lot prby isioiis 
albne iJtactically, makes - future 
building-prohibitive, flnally Awas ap- 
proved . by the -Common Council. 
Thtire's little likelihood thai' there 
■will be any future theatres built here 
•without ample provision: for parking, 
one of this, motor, tity's bugaboos. . 

Under. ;the ,hew. , zoning law^ 200 
square . feet .- of : parking space . miust 
be provided -for every 10 seats in 
this ; house.: The lot .also must be: 
lipetited; within 500 feet of the build- 
ing- it 'serves. ■ 

To a degree, it Was. pointed but, 
the new . ordinarice will practically 
freeze the' downtown theatre sltua- 
tipn it; is/ There isn't much 
chance- that investors .will go for 
do.wnt6wn cohstructioii. Ayheii, in ad- 
dition: to . having.: to ' b.uy.';exptnsiy(e 
real Estate '.for . a. ttew . hduse, vth6y 
would be compelled, .say Idr z 3,000- 
seater, to buy ah. additional ^00,000 
square feet of proijerty;for parking; 
It also Would be quite ^a prpblem 
finding such a .chunlc\ o£ .land in a 
gpdd location dbwritown. : . 

However, while the theatre men 
were, making their fight and getting 
some ' modification ;t6 the Sionirig law, 
they admitted that-: basically it wias ja 
law that Was sound and proved by 
their own operations. The nabes 
here , which had adequate! parking 
toolt thfe play awiay from the down- 
town , houises where the parking 
cituatidn was .briital • and \ which 
Idfced the' first-ruhs , into devising 
air kind of bargain ideas for park- 
ing- ■ 

. While buckihg the . new law, many 
of the new houses which went up 
Urourid the town took into corisidera- 
tion lhe hint it. contained and, al- 
thoujgh hot compelled, provided - big 
parking lots. Some worked .out the 
idea of including . stores iii their 
theatre buildings and ' found ready 
renters for them - on the idea that 
the patking loU; were swell for the 
stpres daytinies, wilhi the theatre 
goers taking over the .space night 

" ..tiines; ' ' ' 

The zoning ordinance also- gave 
quite a. hypo to the iinprecedented 
new theatre building which Detroit 
S9W in 1940. The chains and indi- 
viduals, contemplating new houses 



hurried to beat the law arid hou.";es 
Went :!up in all seetioris. ■ Most did 
include parking but did not'have. to 
make; th<2 extensive i>ro.vision5 re- 
quired- by the^lhw.. ; ; ' :/ " 
-More.:'faceilfiinj{:.; 

Veair etid, ais reflj^ctiye of all .19.40 
in these parts, .saw plenty of .lhcati:e$ 
gpiiig up or femerging-frpm 'extensive 
remodeling.",- .; 
FoUdwirig a favored plan -here of 



iiig. It has 400 seats and replaces; 
1 he old' I?endcr. Oscar J phnstpn ■ will 
open the Oil City Ihiea^tre at Fallfi 
City, Neb., Feb. J.l^ This housi re- 
places .the old JSIectric abd will seat. 
700. " Reason for the riame Oil Gity 
is the current oil boom in thie Fajlls 
! City sectioh| of Nebraska, dow^ iii 
the southeast, corner of tKe state. . 

Across, the Missouri over in I6w|, 
Charley Shoecrait operis th^' Ttiew- 
Walnut, .Walnut, la., a. tew. miles east 
of <!)niahacpn Xmas day. It has 250 
seats and replace^ the old Strand, de^! 
stroycid by fire. Ralph Blahk^ nephew; 
of A. H. 31ank, TristateS tycoon, re- 
modeling extenisiyely at Hawarden, 
Ia;V where he will soon open th6:40p- 
seat Our. Theatre practically as a 
new house, At .Memphis, Alice 
Johnson openis the brand new 30(1- 
seatfMemphis Xnia's day. ::■ 
. /Equipment m'en.in Omaha , rieipbrt a 
hike in gieheral business With a , few 
bouses and . quite! a lot of remodelihg 
jidbs in the Omaha territory. Xocal 
tierritory includes western Iowa; cen- 
tral lind eaitctrh Nebraska; a strip :of 



incl.udin!g stoTfes, bowlings , ;a}leys; 
bars, etc.,viri ;the same building with. 

picture,hPuSes, Mai>c -Alien Is erecting, ^ 

a new iiOOO-sealer in suburban- Allen ^^^^hfer^ South Daicdta : kni a iutle 



Parlt,. which Will cpritaiii three stores 
in the structure,, . w^ w iii! cost an 
estiinated $75,OQ(6. - life gets a double 
play on his and the town's name by 
calling the hPuse The Allen. He also 
operates the "Lincoln. Park Ih another 
suburb— Lindoln Park. ■ : 

..Sighiiicahce, top; lies in ihstalla-; 
tidn of stage equipment .in two more 
df the Butterfieid Circuit's extehsive 
chain— the :Hill. at 'Hillsdale. .Mich., 
and the Strand,- at Flint. The chain 
hais been running in vaudeville and 
has taken a whirl at drama with 
'Man AVho Came tp Dinner- in bhe-^ 
night stands its . bigger town 
houses. . The circuit also announced 
that it win have its; SOQTseater, ' the- 
Michigan,. 'r«ady for a May opening 
in. Battle Creelc, neir by. the rapidly 
exipandihg -Camp Custei:. , : . ! 

Extensive remodelihg here has In- 
cluded $20,000 expended on a- hew, 
fronts rest rooms and lobby by 
Komer & Gdldberg in their Redford: 
|10,000 on. remodeling oh . Virginia, 
taken over by William Schulte from 
the Portel Circuit, and $10,000 fot re- 
building entirely inside the walls the 
nabe Oliver, tecei^tly acquired by 
the Moule & Newinan Circuit. 

A new '250-seater was opened in 
the small town of Kalkaska by O. W. 
Keeler, who runs .a tiieafere in .Bay 
City. - 

O.malia's FaceUttlag 

Omaha, Dec. 91: 
■ Despite War ; and 4 depressibri 
hangover, film business is reflecting 
soine kind . of comeback in the 
Omaha territory if .remodeled :iand 
hew houses are any indication «f 
the way things are going; { The new 
Pender theatre in. Pender, Neb.^ is 
being readied by Hcrrhaii J^eier- 
dierks for a middle February open- 



dip!. into Kansas and Missouri.! 




F' Tbe MSNEY-STOKOWSklint 
ANTASI 
It TKlMOtar nt IM FiatiNNd 
Mm Pill|2:«ll:« • M Sutt Imnrt 
BROADWAY 



TMBATRE 
CI ••S38S 






COMRADE X" 

A : Metro-CeidwrB-Mayer rictura 




Latt Tlmts Wed. 
"THK THIEF 
OV DAiiUAD'^ ■ 

In Person- • 
.Jhy C..'F|l|i|>«n 
.AIW .Muilile 
Stone £ Colliriii 



Staiti Thnr*:. J«i. } | 

ieaMtt* N*Imd 
MitOontld. . - £dtfy 
'^BITTER 8W£ET'? 

I'n i^nrann- ' 

Linu :jttk 

LITTLE A Orell. 
3 vSTdObES 
Estilla TAYLOR 



cVi^r'** MUSIG H^LL 

HELD OVF.a ~ . ■ 

"PHILADELPHIA 
STORY" 

.Spectacufar Stags Production* 



THIRD WEEK! 
ERROL FLYTSN 
OUVU ok HAVILLAND 

In a N4w Warner . Bro». -Hit ■ 

"SANTA FE TRAIL" 

with Raymonil' Mamipy 

Ver-son ABE LYMAN 

uod His CfkUfomlabs . 

STRANP • 3Vay ft 47 St. 



RKO PALACE 



a w»Y i 

4 7lf St.. 



BETTE BAVIS 

^^THElETTER" 



Herbert- ; 
.VIAHSIIAIX 



■ -- Jii'meii '. - . 
• . STEI'HEISaON" 

; ■■: ~ '■ -. :aini^ '■ /',:■■■ J ■ 
Aiion 'JONJB.S .Naiiey . KbtlY 

. ABHOTT aml C'OSTKif^l.b 
"ONE NIGilT IN tllE TRO>IC9" 



PARAMOUNT 



HiXD OVjEK 



Jack 
• BENNV 
JtYed 

!'LQVe THY 
NEIGHBOR" 



In l'vra<ttt 
. TOMMY . 
DOUSEY 
uhd Hand . 
MCllOIwVIJ 
. > . . III(0». . 



: Mldnlte Bcrecii Hltowit 



held: 

"VICTORY" 

With F R E D ER i C MARCH 
and BETTY FIELD 



U.NITED PTVOTT Broadway 
A RTI STS ni V '^M at 49th St. 
Dstfi 0>«ii A.M. , HIDNITE SHOWB 



Wsraer's Toungsiown Nabe 

Youngstown, 0.,.Dec. 31, 
• Warner Bros. . wjH erect, a new 
nabe on-'tiie.-North Side o^ Yoiings-' 
town, , ahndUnced '^at Wolf , of CJeve-: . 
land, division- manager b£ WB^, Ohio 
zone. Firm has purchased the prop-, 
erty on the e^st side of Elm strieet, 
between. Brpadway and. Bissell, . how 
occupied by two apartment buildings, 
owned by! P. M. Robins,' of. the War-- 
ner theatre. ; !The biiildings will ie! 
razed and a modern . cbmmepcial 
building .and cinema:. effected.':. :One 
of the building^, was. built by Harry 
M. Warner, whcise! family lived there 
•for many -years. 

The new house will ..have pver! 
1,000 seats of the lounge type, .mod- 
erhistic decorations, - latest t y p e 
cfquipihient, rest rooms, and air- 
conditioning. Work will begin . as 
soon as plans are !corapIe!t6d and ap-r 
proved, Wolf. said. The North iSid^ 
has ho^ heighbprhobd theatres; . 

Plans are. Under way fbr.ai theatre 
to seat 1,200 on propierty facing*. Bel- 
liriont avenue at Ftahcisca, Youngs- 
toWn. liie Rayen Realt; Co, has 
adicd the City. Planning Commission 
to approve a new setback line and 
re-z<>ne the property at this site, .. 



ParMontliSMm^ 





SHERMAN'S 'ALLBI' : 

. . Hollywood, Dec; 31. 
.yincent -Sherman draws the direc- 
tor assignment on Warners' 'Strange ' 
Alibi,' a yarh by Leslie White,' 
scripied by Fred Niblo, Jr., and Ken;! 
Gairiiel;!' . ■', ; ■: ■■■ •. .-!■!'■..■ 1 

. Joan Perry and Arthur Kennedy ; 
get the featured spots. I 



. ..Washington,. Dec. 31; 
Flow from .the amusement .IndusV 
try tax gusher seerns to. be slowing 
down.. When Congress set off the! 
.djrn'amite charge last July, the rev> 
enue output increased sensationally 
and subsequently has tapered off to 
what looks like a steady yield 
oi around $6,500,000 per month. 

The yield is still climbing but the 
rate of mbnth-tbrmpnth gain Is 
progressively less, according to. the 
Treasury Department's report! on 
Noverhber collections. Reflecting thie 
gross:^October take, the slice for the 
Federal .Government was . up .less 
than in ahy.otheir 30-day period since 
the starting point was Ibwered ip 

■21c... . •■.;.!;.-■■,; ^- ■ ' ^!;- ■ ' - 

' The treasury .:ppck,eted $^ 
as its ;cUt from ! October .wicket re- 
ceipts, a. rise of $499,796; over ihe 
prior, mbntli and $4,946,581. ahead of 
'the same mpntfi, la!st y-eat. .But in 
contrast,, the !Ci6vernmeht's slice Pf 
Sei>timber . b|Usihess was;. $776;744 
more than in August. !^ And the. pay- 
rnenVs on . August . ticfeet salies Were 
$1,444,558 mbrt: than in July. • 

Though . icveiing ofr,'<the revenues 
from the 10% bite 'set a heW hiigh 
ijv Noveniber. Pdr the !third! succesr 
siv.e time since Congress clamped oh 
tlie . levy . between. .2Pc ■and 4i)c, .!No- 
yember ! was Uie first ■ time . the takis 
has passed the. $7,000,000 rriark, and 
the total was more than $5,000,000.: 
fatter thairi the 'first month's (July's) 
yield under the heavier taxes. . . 

Since Congress :got .tqugh. last 
s^imiper, the Government: has snared 
more than $24.000i000 for admissions. 
The grab for 11 • months this year 
iaggregatei. $36,829,396,, compiared 
with only $17,971^773 during these 
stanzas of 1939 jand $18,684,000 in t^e 
same portion of . record-breaking 
1937. And the talte since the duty 
Was upjped — four ! months : aigp---is: 
only. $1,000,000 .shprt of ! the .. sum 
ledi^ered, in the full. 12 months of 
.1934.V : ■ .y..'^: , . J 



Inside StuflT-Picte^ 



■ High.:cost of restnctlonii On school-age children is caiusiiig a drastic 
reduction iii' the employment pf moppets . in Hollywood studio.s, • Some fllni 
CQnipiahies are turning down all stories involving under-age playe!^^!, oWing 
to the strict regiilatiphs and.' the. UricerUinty abput. future, iegislatlbri In- 
that rieSpect.^: Kids undier 18 wbo have, .not graduated from' high school 
must, be provided With threi hbuirs of! s.chbolih!g and one hour of ! fecrea* 
tton during the worklnjg.day, leaving only four hours for acting; in addi- 
tip!n,- the.studios .mus^ foot the bilk tieachers and classrobjn facilitiei. 
liifeahwhile,: casting directors are: worrying .oyer the He w . pol icy wh i.qh pre^ 
vients youngsters from' getting experience and threatens a future shortage 
in tha moppet market: - -'\-...\ \. 

Thomas K. Finlietter, special icbiinsel: employed . by RKO to defend Itsiif 
during the period it was flghtinjg reorganization application.^ received 
$8,000 piit of. a total of $15,000 asked, pliis $147 disbursements from Federal 
Judge WillianHBondy Iri; N. Y..;'-;."-" .'^ •- 7 

Finletter was employed May 28, 1940, by RKO and devoted the. next 
month, to surveys which. aided the cpurt in determining the final amount 
which could he allowed to attorneys for their services without Jiurtihg 
the; film; company's cash - reserve. . . 



Bing Crosby's new deal with Paramount voids ali butside .pictUres exceji.t 
the one he has in prospect under the bid contract, which expires next June 
After that, the .crooner is Under Parampuinit control with a pact calling 
for three features a year at $175,000 apiece, and no dates with Pther studios,, 
such as Universal, where; he ;jhas been paying annual Visits for the last twd 
yisars. tinder the old Par document, Crosby has one picture to make, start- 
ing about March 1, If he is going to make the outside film under the old 
agreement he will have to squeeze it in during the winter months or in the 
interim between the finish; of his Parambunt picture and th^ 



Jack H. Levin, director of the Copyright Protectipn Bureau, in his ah» 
nual report, points out that the consent decree in no. way affects the effort! 
by major distributors to prevent unauthorized extension of bl* 
cycling of pictures^ ' i.-:: : , ■ - " ■ !"'V.'... 

Bicycling of films was found in seven theatres for each theatre ; ihvestl-- . 
gated by request for unauthorized extension of runs, or so-cailed 'hold* 
overs'. General territorial piobes, made : in selected! territories,. hoWever, :> 
showed that 'holdovers'. far exceeded bicycjinjg violat ions. . Violations were 
found in 26% of theatres as against 28% in the previous year. 

Paramount issued eiight-page priHted, pamphlet; the fli-st- statement !pf 
its kind ever made by a film company to its employes, detailing the re- 
lationship to be expected between the studio and its personnel. 'Signed by 
Y. Frank Freeman and sent to 2,750 regular workers, the pamphlet em- 
phasizes the company's recognition of collective bargaining and discusses 
such matters as individual earnings, .Safety,; working conditions, quality, 
and quantity of output and economical operation. 

Document pledges constant consideratioh for the benefit- of the greatest 
number over the longest period. : ! . . 



Threats of legal, action, have been served on the agent fPr.a Hollywood 
playboy, who has . been bursting into print with phoney dates involving 
Various screen actresses Who have been giving him the brushoff, but find, 
their names linked with his in the gossip columns. Touchoff came when 
one of the femme players, recently Wed, was played Up in a downtowd 
dally column as the former wife of the playbpy, whom she had met only 
once and then only Ibng enough to hand him the freedom of the street. 
Attorneys for the femmes are objecting to their clients being taken for a 
rid* on the blurb machine. 



Edward A. Sargoy and Joseph L; Stein, who are counsel for the major 
distributing companies' Copyright Protection Bureau, cbnducled a sym» 
poslum recently at the Columbia University School of Law on the legal 
problems involved in protecting the sound tracks of copyrighted motion; 
picture ftlrns against pPssibilities! of unauthorized re-recordihg, and radio 
or television broadcasting. .'They . were invited to the Seminar on Legal 
Problems by Professors Richard R.:!PG\yell abd Francis Deak, of the law 
faculty, who participated in the discussions, ■• 



AH accredited photographers, newsreel or. stillmeii, have "been informed . 
of a new system! for priess camera cards for work in U. S. Arn^y camps and 
elsewhere covered by! the military setup. Newsreel lehsmeri welcome a 
system of distributing such cardboards, but . learned recently that- aU 
corps areas aire not familiar with details of the new setup. 
[■ Newsreel boys in Chicago were informed by the Sixth Corps area of- 
ficers that no action would be taken Until they were informed niore fully 
from GHQ. 



.How United Artists came to add former Judge Joseph N. ProskauCr to 
its legal staff recently In its battle with Samuel Goldwyn is a study in 
reverse English. 

Upon the death of Goldwyn's attorney, Max D. Steuer, Goldwyn made 
ian effort to retain Proskauer. Latter, however, had represented UA in tha 
William S. Hart case and before taking sides against the distributing com- 
pany informed it of the offer from GoldWyn; Whereupon, rather thai 
see the producer snare its ex-lawyer, UA hired! him itself. 



HeaViS^^pductiori of high-budget pictures at Republic is planned by 
Herbert J. Yates, chairman of the board, with: two or three deals on the. 
.fire for tbpnotch producers from riiajpr studi^^^ 

fit five years ago, has gradually been enTarging its prbduct; and increasing 
its first-run output. Among its recent high-bracket films have hcen 'Hit 
Parade' ahd. 'Dark; Command.r -bb in - the $750,000 class, and its Geiie 
Autry westerns, which have, been going up steadily , in the financial scale. 

George! Bi'own,! recisn^ at Para^^ 

.mount.: studio, grabbe^^^^ .iLps ! Angeles 

dailies Satui-day when he called in scribeb and phbtographers to watch 
Dorothy .LanioUr b\irh her .ti'Usty sarong 'in a jungle pbf bori'pwccl, along 
with a couple of the local Negro colony's 'cannibals/ on ' Par's 'Road to 
Zanzibar' set. Event, was occasioned by fact that Lamour sheds her wrap- 
around in favor of more civilized "fernrne garb in 'Caught in the Draft,' in 
which she is being CpTstar^^^ ., 

^ Eleanor Harris, yhb. is! suing; 20th.-Fpx for alleged ;faiiure! to give, her 

screen credit fpir work on the script of 'Brigham Young,' was ordered last 

week to supply the.:studip . with furthei' particulars oh /her cliaiin. 

; Edict was passed out 'by !Judg(^ Edward A, Conger in! U. S. Distriot Court . 

In Manhattan. ! Miss Harris claims^ among bther thingsj fraud bn the public 

by .20th's, making it appear that -tipUis Bromfleid was^ 

for the 'Brigham' script. - !/ ..- 



Museum of. Modern Art, N-. Y., has recently published ; two. books on 
famed screen personalities. ■ First is 'Douglas Fairbanks; The Making of .« 
Screen Character,' by Alistair Cbbke, and the. second, . 'D„ W; Griffith: 
Anfierican ■ Film Master,' by Iris Barry. Bpth include many pictures and 
sell for $1 each. Cooke is rad'o commentator on films and associated Wim 
thd Museum's film library, while - Miss Barry is. its curator.. Latter iast 
season, ran series oh Douglas Fairbanks and! currently has one bri Griffith, 

Herb Polesie has lined up four more short sport subjects to follow: 'Swing 
with Bing,' ■ the Uni-versal briefie with Bing Crpsby ^syinging !a golf club 
and Andy Devine narratmg. Pictures, will be ihade with screeh; names m 
various sorts of sports. 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 



RAOUi 19 









Up to yARiETy press; time, (Tues- 
day) Tioi l(Mlers\f6r any kind of: 

' true* had cbrtie- from eith^^^ or 

' dblumjtik , ani everything pointed to. 

extended and bitter conflict be-; 
twwft the .networks and the music 
industry . represented -bi^" the 
AmfericanV ' Society. .. of; ; Composers, 
Authors 'and PubUshers. General 
Impression in the two- industries Is 
that Assistant TJ. S. Attorney Gen- 
eral Thurma.h Arnold has. by his in? 
dictnient threats helped 'muddy .lip 
the situation ■stiU ..ipjar(e and . the 
chances are that no peiace maneuyei^' 

•win ma terializiet until! after the. V. S; 
Supreme Court has hainded down de- 
cisions: in the Nebraskia and Florida 

■;cases.' ■ ■ , ' 
Networks hiaVe taken the position 
that even if they wanted to enter in 
gom e s or t of pge rPiaace huddle with 
ASCAP they must consider the pos- 
sible eltects of Arnold's latest pro- 
tiouiicefnents. . The Government, 
they point - out, has placed them oti. 
notice . to the effect that'the. Depart- 
iiient of Justice i.s of.the opinion that 
ASCAP's present form of licensing 
(CorMnued on paige 34) 



The Gags Beg^in 

WTfien a trained miisicar seal 
was brought into WTMJ'i studios 
to go on theaii:. Witli Heinie and 
his .Grehadiecs as a ."piiblicity ■ 
stunt. Rum Winnie, head of the 
station's annouhcihg stafF/ got 
Heiniie wbirried' by asking wheth-: 
er a stand by musician- had been . 
provided 6ii .siccbiint of bringinig ; 
in an outside instrument player. ■ : 
; Hei^^^ went; to the station's 

musical director^ William J, Ben- 
riihg, with his problem, and up: 
came ainother question— ctid the 

; seal ' intend~tb play ASCAP oV ! 

':BMI' niusic? -''.s - 



MILLER SEES 
OGRE 





Sign With BMI 



. Broadcast Music, Inc., iiow reports 
It has 660 subscriber stations out of 
a possible 796 commercial stations. Of 
this number 542 ' have laid their 
ihoney on the line anU 90, are 
pledges, who are expected to get it 
Up shortly after Jan. 1. Since" the 
last listing in Variety (Dec. 1-8), the 
following stations have signed Up 
for ! BMI service: . ■ ,'. ■ • 

: W.ADC. Alii on. . Ohio. : 
,WHP..HnfrIsl>\iiK. Pa... 
. KFPW., Fort ."iniUli, Aril. 

• WLW. GinMnniitl,. 
KHBO, OkmiilKoe, Okla. 
Vrisa, Dnylhn. . ■ ■ 
KWU<; Allmii.v.Orc. • 
KON'F, Norlh Pl«Ue, Neb.. 
WJAS, ■piltshlir-Kli. ' ' 
KQV. PIUsi)urKli. . ; 
"WH.IB, d'cpiialiiii-ir. Pa, 
■WJ.VX, j!ii:ksm)vllle. 
KOBX, .SprliiKMolfV. Mo.- 
WMB-S thdonlowii, \>i. . 

. WKAQ, .<an .Tiian, Puprto' Rico. 

• WRDO, Avmuylii. Mnliie. 
WIBM. JnPk>on,. Mich. 

"WDEF, (.•h;illnii0OKB. 
. W.RAT,., Rnlclph. .N. C. 

W.ljBT, Gndsden. Ala. 

KELD. HI ■ Dorado. ■ Ar 

W.HRR. Hf\ma, Aln. 

WXIFR. Illph I'dliit. . a 

WA-PO. ChntlnhoogR. 

KOAM, Piil>1)iii-"K, K.iri;. ■ 

WTAT,. .TulUtiRsspp. Fla. . 

• KOOA, KIlKOip, Toxai 
- . WLHC, Mun<-I<>. Ind. ■ 

■ WBrx. S(. PMpr'shnrK. 
WDLP, Pflrittina l.'ilyV Fla. • 
WDW.S, (MiHtup.TlKn. 111. 
TVLA V, . Oi a nd ; Rn n.M.i, Mich. 
WJHL, Jplin.son City. Tehn. 
WT.SP, Kt. Ppteiaburg. 
WBIR, Knoxvlllo. 

KLO. ORdp'n. rinh. 
. W1,AK. r,nKp|nnd. Fla.. 
WPOa, I>p,maP0lH, V.ln. 
KRLH. MIdlHrid, Texa* 
, WEBR, BiKTbIo.. ■ 
.•..WHER. PorLsmoulh. . H, , ■ 

.KOFF,- flhawnpp. Oklai ' - . 
. ^RI?F, fSBinpsvllle. Fla, . 
. KMC. .iVoma, Wiiah. ■ 

■ . WJfAK.. Wpst Polni. fla; 

KXnn, Ahp'rdpen. AVa.-")!. . 
W.<!r,B. OKdpn.<iIiiirgr, M.- T.. 
. WOt;F, .Svnirusp.. ' . 
■.^"Or.S. - joUPt.. III. 

■ wsav;. ivcaiuiv- '■ -■ - ^ 

■WDBO, Orlan.lo/ . 

.WALA,- MiibllP. : • :■. ^" : ■•■ ■•• 
5'n<^ Rluff.- Ark. " • . 

■ ..WMOe, llohlle...- • 

SZ^*"- 3<>ntA Ana. Oal. 
.WTJ.S. -.Jipksoti; Tenn-.. 
. .WGKAV Cliarleston; W. V», . 

■ 59S'^' P*"''! (•Ity,. s. Diak. .. ' 
KARM, Fresno. Cal. 

KT"**; "61 RnrlngM. Aflt. . 

Srji'i '""'"""hliS/. Mts*;-: " . . . 

. WMBr. •.n.Plrolt.-. HIoh. • : ■■ . 

■ ■■WAJR,. M.)rsahlown. .W. V». . 
.. WARM, ;.c»(.r,inlon;-.P;«.- . : ! ' 

• -Sgjil-.'SiolTord. rli?-. ■ 

■ -J^MRO, Aurovii, Til. ■ • ■ 
JC;;BJ:. Ho.wUhi? rfrcph, Ky. . ; . 

5«J?^'. <ii-ppnvi)ip; s, a- : ••■ 

WFIR.C:,. Anrtprsoii; Iiirt. - 
V.'Pkahurp.- Miss, 

■.,WO ;R.;norer;!-P..il'n. ^ ; 

WashlnKtoh. n. C. . 
:2iiOf.\Ori."ido,,,vu.. . . 

■ ft2?.*'-^'''""'''''lPldi Ore. 

W PHR.- :\vi?:«n>lii Uanltlg. Wl* 
firjIM. AndPrson. s;:<", . 
' irf?VI'' )Val.soi)vlllp. CnL 

,.KODI,, -Tho nairp.-.- Oi P.' 

KBTM, .loiiP.sborO. Ark. -■. . 

•*ADa, Jiia, Okl4. • 



. Neyille:.. Miller, president of the 
National Association of Broadcaste^rs, 
met the ahrtouncement that station 
WHN. N, Y., : would take . out •, an 
ASCAP license with a statement ar-- 
raigrtihg the picture industry's con- 
nections with ASCAP. . The state- 
ment fblloWsr 

'This move, expected by iall radio 
stations,, for the . first time brings 
into the Open the close connection: 
between ASCAP and the film iridus- 
try. Station WHN is controlled by 
Metro-Gold wyn -Mayer, part of the 
film industry . which indirectly con- 
trols ASCAP- Last year 13 music; 
corporations affiliated with the film 
industry got 65% of .the $2,500,000 
that ASCAP collected from broad- 
casting and paid to ASCAP's 136 
publisher members. , 
■ Film., industry has an annual In- 
come of more .than $l,100|000i000. But 
ASCAP, which is partially controlled 
by:; film corporations, charges- the 
films an annual fee of only $1,000,- 
000. for all the ASCAP music the 
films Want to use. 

The radio industry has an .annual 
gross .of only $120,000,000. But last 
year ASCAP taxed the radio indus- 
try $4,500,000 for the. right to use 
ASCAP's music brt the . air. Thiisj 
for the use of ASCAP \music the 
radio stations paid 41 times as much 
as the film industry per dollar Of in- 
come:. And the 13 music corpora- 
tions affiliated with the fllin industry 
actually received from ASCAP 
$625,000 more last year than the 
total fees which ASCAP charged the 



. Detroit, Dec. M. 
. ASCAP will continue to, be heard 
here- over WJBK, James F, Hbpkihs. 
manager of the station annoiihced 
this week. 'The station. .will thaihtain 
its: ASCA.P licen$e; ■ addition . to 
rights in the hew. musical library esr. 
tablished by BMI to whose stock the 
station was an. early subscriber. 

'bur problem ; differs from the 
chain - affiliated stations,* Hopkins 
said. Tor one • thing we must build 
our ; own programs ' 24 hoUrs a day. 
We have a large fbre.ign-lanj;uage. 
audience (the station puts but pro* 
grams in : 11 ■languages) and . the 
'memory pattern' tunes familiar to 
various nationals .iniist be included 
in . these programs. BMI was not- 
in a position tpvadvlse, us;;with;ariy. 
certainty- which "of these were cleir 
copyright and which .werenot. . 

'We tried to engage a fUlUtime ex-, 
pert capable of advising authorita- 
tively on the hundreds of difTereht 
numbers essential to our programs 
but -learned there are only four or 
flye^men in the United States quali- 
fied 'to do this. So rathei: than, at- 
tempt to build' our . programs under 
BMI license only, and incur a con- 
stant risk of infringing ' ASCAP 
rights,, we felt it was in our Detroit 
listeners'- interest, as well as our 
own, to retain this station's rights to 
the : entire broadcast music field. 

'We have watched the copyright 
situation closely for some 12 years 
and belieive that, as in most contro- 
versies, there is merit on both sides. 
This station will not be scheduling 
any current ASCAP popular tunes. 
But with license; rights in both we 
should . be febje to keep on giyi.hg 
public sei?vice.' ■ . 



Needles Miller 



Mutual Network n^aled Nfiy- 
iile Miller, NAB prieai, Monday 
(30) . . aboiit his announcement 
• that ho .had taken up branch 
offices in Radio . City, which if 
also the. headquarters . of NBC. 
■ . Mutual's note . reminded - the 
NAB heacl that , he could hay* 
picked more neutral ground, 
since Mutual and Coluiixbia are 
also afTiliated withu. tbe broad- 
casteirsv. association. ; ■ . 




entire motion picture industry for 
use of all ASCAP music during the 
entire - yeair.' 

BMI- itself sought to make a deal 
with the .Metro, group, of publishing 
house several months ago, -but the 
negotiations . struck, a snag oyer 
copyright Warranties and obligation 
underwriting. . • . ; .. 



. Alexander Thiede's . contract has 
expired (28) for. studio orchestra at 
WMEX, Boston. No successor ' has 
been named. 



Philadelphia, Dec. 31 .- ; 
. ■ The solid anti-ASCAP front ■ along 
Philly's Radio Hovir has been broken, 
and .its repercussions, may ; make 
•serious- inroads lit 't^le^ broadcasters' 
stand- against , the Afnerican Society 
of ■ Cloinposers, ■ Authors arid : PUb^ 
lishers. Thie stations which ' haye 
'fallen by the wayside' are WDAS, 
WTEL. WIBG and WCAM, Camden, 
N.' J:. " 

WDAS, a ;2S0-wattcri. owned by; 
Alexander. Dannenba^lim, has consid- 
ered local biz based upon Use of 
ASCAP recordings. Its competitors 
for this type of biz are WPEN, WIP, 
and— in a degriee— WFIL. Right how 
all eyes are. oh- Arthur Simon, man- 
ager of WPEN, which is part of the 
Arde Bulova chain. If WDAS suc- 
.ceeds in getting any of WPEN's ad- 
vertisers oh the Strength ; of . its 
ASCAP-recordihg t i e u p , S i m o n 
niight be forced lb give in and sign 
with- ASCAP. It WPEN gives in, 
WiP, operated, by the Gimbel Brothr 
ers interests, might ialso have to sign 
with ASCAP, since it too would be 
fearful of Josing its cushy record 
.trade to WPEN, which recently had 
•its-, power hiked. 

If WIP goes ASCAP, it would put 
WFIL in a tough spot, since Samuel 
R. Rosenbaum. head of Independent 
Radio Network Affiliates, is prexy 
ot WFIL, and one of the leaders Of 
.the anti-ASCAP fight in; the ranks 
of the .National Association of Broad- 
casters. ' . 

It's conceded that a station with 
AS(i AP recordiiigs can ofTer a tempt- 
ing inducement to sponsors oi; disc 
shows. WD As. for example, has both 
ASCAP and Broadcast Music; Inc., 
tunes, since Dannenbaum is one -of 
the charter mehibers of BMI; 



ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 

NEXT WEDNESDAY. JAN. 8 






AdvierUsing Fdrnt9^^ €^ Friday:, Jan^ 3 / 
So A4v /Rates or Newsstand Price ^^^^ 




l^ahy subscnbei's and readers bi^^^ Variely'si 

anniversary issues to be mailed W^^f^^ should be 

placfed in adyaiice with y piir newsdealei' or at aiiy Variety office 

NEW YORK HbLLvWoOb CHIGAGO LONDON 

154 W. 46th St 1708 N. Vine St. 54 W. Randolph St. 8 St Martin's PL 




- At the deadline , Tuesday (31) for 
the . termination of the - 1935-1940 ; 
^/ySCAP cotitiracts ;quite a number of 
radio stiitions were, apparently sign- 
ing up.f or licenses from both sources 
of performance rights/; ASCAP and 
;BMI, James Hopkins of WJBK, Die- 
trblt, most frankly ;gaye the' indi 
.station operator's^ viewpoint ise«\ 
sepiarate. .story) •■• . this - 'matter; ^ 
Meantime both BMI and ASCAP * 
Were carrying oh a last minute 
counting of noses as Variety went to. 
press late . Tuesday, .;v . . .; 7 ; . 

ASCAP hoitie offices . .reported .; 
that its' clerical staff bad been kept 
going; since Monday morning ' ac- 
knowledging telephone calls and , 
telegrams froih stations; seeking hew .; 
license agreements. It was intimated . 
that hosts: of station^ might be ori , 
the air With ASCAP inusic without 
being duly licensed since the after- 
noon before New- Year's is: treated. . . 
-regularly as part of thi. holidays and; 
that the membesrs of the clerical staff . 
would .be' permitted to - go through-, 
with their -holiday plans. ASCTAP esi - 
timated that it will have weir oyer; 
200 station licences when; the recap 
is taken. Thursday, (tomorrow). 

Following list includes stations, 
which had obtained- their new 
ASCAP licenses by press time Tues- 
day afternoon: 



Sign With ASCAP 



KPHO, rhoenix, Arix. 
.KRHI, l.lttle noi'k. 
KPWn; Li)» Angeles.. 
. . KOIW., Alumo.sH; Colo'. 
KOKO. T-a Junts. ("olo. 
KTDW, LHrnnr. Colo. 
WI.VJC. .Washlnftton, D. 0. , . 

■ WOAIi; A-ltion, Gn. 
wnOA,' Rome- Oa. 
AVIJL.T, Dnltdn, O*. 
WJ.AX, JnrkBOnv.llle, Flv 
WCRW. OhlroKo. 
WlilX:, rniriiirb. 

. WCVJ., flilcago... . 

WAOV.. Vlnoennen. Tii<J.. . . 

WJOV, Hammond. Inil. . 

WTnr, Elklin'rt, Inil. • ■ 
.. WHOP. HoplilnHVlllB, Kr. 

WPAD. Paducnh, Ky. 

Wrao. Frfili-rlck, Vd. 

WftOr. Palj.«ihiiry, VMil. 

WMKX, no.st6n. 

W.K.«5C. Salem;' M»8s.' 

WfIDH,. Ho.Hon. 

WORU no.<U>n.. 
WrOI'. Hriston. 

WJDK, Dntrolt. - 

WKXIy, Royal Oatt, Mich. 
- W.MIN, .St. .Vrtiil. . ' . " 

-WJPIl. (!rc«n.vllle,.:Ml!i». 

KORN, Kremniit, Nobr. 

WftRB. Rpd lianlt. N. J. - 

WHBI, Newark, N. J. ■ 

"WflAI*. Asljury I'k;, N. J. 
. WHOM, .Jersey Clly. 

WAAT. Jersey Clly, 

W.N' KW, New york .Clff. 

KI.AH, CarlBbad, .V. M. 

WHI.,P, NIaifBra-FttlU, M: T. 

WAT.V, Wnt<>rlown. N. Y. 

W,MPR, HiKh Point, .S. C. 

WFKi, Sumter, 3. C. 

WnilO, . OrlanJo, Fl(i. 
. WHAZ, Troy. N, Y. ; 

WOI-F. .Syracuaa, N. T. 

WH.VX. New York City. 

WnN\. S>W York rity.. 

WOV. New, Tiirk CUy. 

WC.VC, EllZ!<Lelh ("Ity, N. O. 

WAIR, Wlnaton-Snlem, N. O. . 

KW.IJ, I'orllaTifJ, Ore. 

Wf>If. Stinron; P>i. 
. WTET>„ Ph)lii(lelplil)i. 
' WIBO. Glenal'le;. Pa. 
. WDAM^l'htladelphla. 

W.N'EU sun, Juan. P. .R. . . 

'KABP. '.S.-in 'Antohlo.' Te*. 

ICnST. 'BiB S'prlnit; Te«. 

KCMC, Tcxai-kaha, Te«.' 

KfSIfT^,- Sap ATinelo, Te«j 
';KnlN,-Pevoi, Ten, .- . 

KI.UK, Oalveatnri; Teit. 

KMA('....San Airionlo, Te«. -. ■ . 

KNOW, Auailn..- ri ez: 

KPLT. -Piirll, Tex.. '. 

KHBO., Alillrnc, Tel.. ' ■ - 

■ WACO, WarO, teif. 

. Kni.H. Mldlajiil. Teit. 

K)t'JZ, 'Kt. Worth', 3'pr.- ■ 

Texaa SMte Netw,, t'haln t-(r;«n»». 
. WQDM, «i; Alljari!!, Vt. ..■ ; 

\VJJB;\', Wal.»i:l'jur.v, Vi; 
-.WRV-A. rrp/Ie.r-lck((hur<, 

wimw,' weisii, v.i. 

. \VI>C)<'i;-:i.OKiin,' W. Va. .. ; 
.'.WKMP; .Milwaukee, 
•AV.HlM.i .<?hel)oy(fah; WM'. - 
KKV/j, Fonil (111 .!,«(■; SVI.1. . 
•WrjSM;- Sjipprior,' Wl<i. . . 
•■WIJ!r','.ll'ovni.llP..-'\Vls. " 
■.WHA.M, .M.IrlnoUp.'Wiji. 
Av:o.\rr, Manllowucr 'Wl*'. ' 
J ' SV-^^Af, U'nu.««u. Wla. .,. 

\Vjm>,-'l'ii;-"-Hl'i'»ia, .\la.' 
•j; WHMA. Annlsinh, - • 
. W'io-V, Val<Io«i,i. (J 
■' ;\V.IMJ; :f■r,^.|r^|;, .ijy. • .v..' ■: 



. tVMCA Given a. Break. 

.; ; WiviCA,. New York, 'Will have ■ 
prerei-eritial .status with. ASCAP .be-. 
\ cau.se: Donald Flarhm is ; ttyinij - tfli. 
i have. -his de.Tl with ■Lrre.savcr M 
I man Ed.ward- Noble abrogated.- Sta- 
, tion can .aic 'ASCAP music pro tcm 
i wilhoiil actually signing an'ASC^AP 
;iicense. ■':-. .■ . 



20 RADia 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 





Thiirlnkri Arnold Siatyi If l^eyUle 

1$ Cbrreiit Others Will Also B6 Indicted-rGov^ 
ernmeht-FroWns ;Up6ri Mum 



DO A HUMMERT 



W.ashinglphj Dec 31. . '■: 

the Unitied' States t)epg)rtm6nt of 
Justice On. Thursday • i26) acted 
to throw its weight, into . the music 
war ' b^tweien the Americah Society 
pf Gomposers, Aiithors and Publish- 
ers and the radio industry.' Iri taking 
action following .Tnbnths; of riimors 
and following recent conversatioris 
with supposed ASGAKspokesnien. the 
DepaMnieht added ,Bf oadqast Music, 
liic., and -the two major Americah 
networks.; NBC and CBS/ to,its list of 
candidates foi: indictment. Mprebver 
It is likely that the National Associa- 
tion of Brpadcastefs, trade body 
through which .-BMIv was /fostjcired, 
and various other btpadcaisters ma^ ■ 
also! be . named, includihg key mem- 
bers of the- Mutual web but i)pssibly 
not Mutual Itseifi :. - 

This prospect (of. mptt' prganiza- 
tions ) was . further .strehgthepeid by 
the head' trustibuster. ~ AHhbugh he 
declined to discuss ahy othiBr aspects 
of the matter or give .any additional 
elaboration of . his: fbriiial -stat^eM 



If in boufet^Cut 



Columbia .has . Instructed its 
. prbdaetiph men tp .cui any pror 

■ gi'am off. the air' instantly if any 
music is. tilayod that has not fire- 
VAbusly been cleared by the net- 

. work's cbipyrighi division. 
- Order was cphUilrted in a;. sUtie^ 

■ ment to th'e. conipany's employ- 

., .issued, yesterday (Tuesday) 
. : bV Douglas Coulter. 



Ahother Appeal (or FCC to Intelr- 

.: -''vcne i'h' /MusIo; War ■ 



LABORHITSBl 






Thurman - Arnold said.^Pnday. <27).| ^f - the card-holders are clearly be 
.when asked to explain the om.iMions; hind American Sociejiy of Composers; 
that the prelimmary investigation ., y^ut^drs. arid Publishers, and strong- 
not complete; ; ly anti-radio " " 



. Washington* Dec. 31; 
Though officially organized labor 
i£ standing ajdiof Xfrpm the pierfprm- 

"in"g rights cbntrofversy,^:"synipathies-4-sEe-^ ^ arid th e -broadcaste'rs en- 



•• . ■ Washingtbn,' Dec. '31. '. 

; Althpugh - similar/ prbppsal was 
sidestepped ■ . hefbr^ . when Frank ; 
Hurririiert: brb.ught up iisue, inter-; 
vention of. the Federal Communica- 
tions Cbmnfiiission in the pertorriiing 
rights coritrpversy was fought Mon- 
day ( 30 >. by sponsors, of the. cbm- 
mittce pf . musicians and educatprs 
seeking reapprbchm^rit between- 
Americari . Speiety of Cbmpbsers,. Au- 
thprk, and Publishers and the bi"bad-' 
casting industry./ ■ Petition with 5,000 
sigriatures .asked -the .reguliaitors: to 
try and ; bring . about reniwed license 
negotiations because of their 'obligia- 
tion to see that radio stations serve 
'public . interest, cbnveniehce, . and 
necessity.^-; v ] ■; \; s ■.: 
.; ppuglas' MbpreV Cplurinbia Univer- 
sity faculty . ..rnember, . wrote ..the 
Commish that the 5,{)00 signers rep- 
resent" institutibris 'and organizations 
with seveirai ixiilhons of persons .who 
are , 'vitally interested ; in American 
musical culture' arid.poirited but that 
assistant attprney general Thurman 
Arnold-had . r,efu§ed to 'sit ; by .arid 



gage in a private war at the, expense 
pf the public;' Considering duties 
imposed by Congress; the FCC ought 
In keeping with the '■ to take .a. siniilar attitudei and has 



It was necessary tp moyeifast; the .tpajj^ipnai ^nion idea that the broad- i ample authority to bring lhe warring 
head of the anti-trust, division ex^ I casting industry, shoiild be severely factions together, he adSed. 



plained. We had collected Jnformar regulated and its workers deserve a 
tlon relating to those parties and bigger sljce 'of the revenues, 
consequently , nariied; them as -the] . Despite the headquarters silence, 
persons against Vvhom charges \y ill ; linmistakable idea of union senti-^ 
be pressed. /! ment was- given this .weelt in an 

If the iniphcations in Mr. Miller's , article in 'Labor,' the: weekly , pub- 
statement (Ed. note^^remarks of the | jjcatibn' of the 21 standard railway 
NAB president that many persons I labor prgariizations. Head told how: 
beside the two major chains were | radio expects to build programs with 
respon?it)le for forming. BMI) are | . ersatz niusie,' while the yam was 
correct, we will indict all tire rest.' .fljied with digs at the chains: and 
AffiUnst Backsliding j stations. Story contained the cits- 

The criminal proceeding is viewed, j tomary reference to 'the big radio 
In: many quarters as an alternative chains, whose profits run into niil- 
means of trying to end the ASCAi>-M'f'ns. termed Broadcast Music. Inc.. j dajlves. _ . . 
radio war oyer new license ■ a^ree- * 'company union, of compo!?ers,' and J Others have their network affilia- 
ments, rather than a vengeful move ; «l"otes .ASCAP argument^ liberally, 
to penalize any of the parties .con- Cptisistently, . the American ; Fed- 
cerned. Plentiful... hints have been i eration of Labor has ducked efforts 
thrown out that the Justice Depart- 1 Tm Pan Alley to line up its 



ment will not in.sist on its pound of i members as sccond^line support, 
• flesh in event the prospective . de- ■ e'^e" •^hough unionized performers 
lendants reach an .amicable agree- ^^^ve more m common . with the 
ment and both sides make voluntary I Jyr'P.»sts and tunesters than with the 
reforms in their, methods of opera- [station and networlc managements 
tiori. Indictrhents will be sought, 



however, regardless of other deyolp 
ments, as guaranty against any 
backsliding. 

Danger of triple damage! suits on a 
wholesale scale, with . ev^i-ybody 
trying to collect from each other, is 
believed almost certain to result in. 
a sudden end of the glowering, as 
well as avert a trial of the charges 
which otherwise Arnold insists he is 
determined to press. There is a wide 
belief thkti. rather than, run the risk 
of conviction and enable the D. bf J. 
to make a record that would be In- 
valuable to.: persons wanting to col- 
lect for past injuries, the parties will 
be more than " glad to plead 'nolb 
contendere* (meaning that they ad 



Nashvtlle 100% Non-ASCAP 

Nashville, Dec. 31; 
. WLAC's ASCAP file was locked on 
Monday (30) according to S. 0. Ward 
in charge of music. Ward reports 
there has been no complaints about 
discontinuing ASCAP but many fav- 
orable comments on BMI have been 
received.' 

WSM and WSIX also have cut 
dwindling ASCAP percentage to 
zero.; ■ ■ . , 



STATIONSCARRY'ASCAP' 
LABEL IN DAILY LOG 



Boston, Dec. 31.. 
-Local independent radio stations 
WMEX. WCOP, WORL, WHDH are. 
listed with the desigri.-.tion ASCAP 
in the radio log of the Boston Ameri-; 
can and Boston Record, . Hearst 
dapics. 
pthe 

tion noted, to point out the stations 
c.irrying music of American Society 
of Compo.sers; Authors & Publishers. 



' Washington, Dec. .31. 

vThe United States Goverrfmerit's; .prospective suit; in the state of Wis- 
consin' agai.nst ASCAP,. BMI, NBC arid -CBS (arid possibly others nbt 
yet ispecifledX will charge eight 'crimlnar^^^^M^^ 

1. The. illegal pooling, p/ nipst of, the desirable cdpyrigKt musifc availabie 
/or radio broadcasting in. order to-elimindfe cbmijctitio 
the 'aupplv; ■■. ' .: :-V ."V ' 

/2v illegal '.discriimrialibn;a^ • ; . ■ 

" 3.. illegai .discriTriinntibri Vdgain composers ti)ftb hte rtot Tnembcra .p/ 
4SCAP on Broadca'st Afiisic^^^^^ . ■, ' 

4. Withholding miisxt irorri ptiblicatibn in order, to. cioct fees not per- 
.Triittcd bi/4hc:.cppi/right latus.; 

5. ;'Illcijal.pricc yixing. '.^ / ' . 

: 6; Restraintng coriipbscrs iti . their' tijght. to hafgc^iti /for Ahe sale of their 
oxvh music, , ■ ■ ■.■•• '■''.■■■■'"•.'.■.■'-.- 

. 7. Rcqiiirinfii itiScrs b/ music to pay for turiea on: programs, iri u'hich no 
music is played, ' ^ . \ 

- 8. Miituoi boycotts' by ASCAP Hjid. bit/ the s broadcasting' chains (thTpugh 
firoddcasting.'MUsic, .ihc;) in on attempt, by each . of these conflicting groups 
to bbtotn ./or themselves .control brer the suppl|i .Q/ mtmc bV: dcprivirig the 
others of. control; tbhich boycotts ihreateri to restrain, and dbistruct -the ren- 
dition over the, radio o/ about 90% o/ the desirable modern copyright niusic: 





Senator Stirs Talk on His Possible 




THE FLAMM 



Owner Begrets WMCA iSale— ingcnlT 
rit pa r tied — — 7- 



' .-MUwaukcCi Dec- 31. . 
News that Milwaukee had been . 
selected bv the Department of Justicfe ' 



CANADA UNAFFECTED • 

But NBG The^urus ASCAP. Records 
May Not Be Used 



Chicago— Joe Spalding joins the 
New . York office, of Free it Peters, 
station rep iflrrii, . 
Spalding has 1 heeri eastern man- 



.... , ^ , ■ , , , ager. of Holland's Magazine and Farm 

"i" .^'l® Intentipn and Rarich, having - been associated 



of . viPl.atirtg the law) 

It Mvas recalled that most respbnd- 
erits in the Justice Department's; civil 
action against the motion picture iri- 
dustiry hastily changed their . tiine 
when .the testimony was abbut.'to 
begin, disarming the disgruntled ^ 
hibitbrs who hpped, tP base; future 
damage efTorts on' tlje eviderice 
offered In the injunction proceeding. 
The broadcasters and Tiri Pan Alley, 
many bif whom are far more viilner- 
able than; sonie of . the elements in 
the pibture business, likely will profit 
■ by . that .example.; . iri the -.view of 
-certairi- officials wh6 privately, pi-e-^ 
diet there; riever will be any trial. ' 
While; it is top soon to^ decide •. 
(Contiriusd ' ph page 28 ) 



with those pubications for 1 years. 



Montreal, Dec. 31... . 

As far as can be ascertained Cana-r 
dian radio stations - will coritinue 
using ASCAP: music regardless of 
the buteome o^ the .current contro- 
versy iri the U. S. A. Canadian broad- 
casters kick iri, with 8 cents royalty 
per radio receiving set to the (Cana- 
dian Performing . Rights Society 
which covers ASCAP. 

NBC Thesaurus Recordings with 
ASCAP selections, however, could 
not be used; by. the Canadian sub 
scribeirs . to the service (about 20) 
after Jan. 1 if . the use of ASCAP 
miisic is forbidden American broad- 
casters. Elimination of ASCAP plat- 
ters tears a hiige chunk put of The- 
saurus library arid wbiild affect con- 
siderable number of sponsors de- 
pendirig • eitclusi vely on' discs here, 




KHQ-KGA PRECAUTIONS 



On the eve: of the break between 
ASCAP and^ the .major pprtipn - of. 
the broadcasting. iridustiFy Brpadcast 
Music released what, it termed thei 
'details of the logging f priritila usetf . 
by BMI to tobulate.rbyaity paynierits 
to : BMI .ijoiripbscrs; .^f pr radip per- 
forriianceS;'. It's a . 'sampling method' 
evolved by Dr.' Piul A- tazarsfeid, 
director i of ; Golumhia ; University's. 



No Musical ' Ad : Libbing of Any P^'fl« of; Rpdio Research'. 



Kind : Is Permitted 



As. explained by BMLitS licensed 
stations ; -are .divided.. . into ' seven 
Spokane, ^Dec. 31. - grbiips each containing; the same; 
KHQ - KGA ! precautions against vnumber of stations, and each groiip 
ASCAP infrlrigements: . | of stations ;cprresppnds closely .tb 

All iriusic used in local brdadcasts, | other groups and 'every one of them 
must come from the studio's own 1 js representiative of the BMI station 
trtiisicai library. , membership . as i whole.- ;..Each 

AH playing and isinglng Strictly month BMI wiir examine and ; tabu- 
from sheet music, not >from memory, late sonre . 00,000 program hpurs 
: All playini; by npte, no imprpvls- brpadcast by mpre than 100 stations 
Ing allowed between selections^' ; .. in all 48 states; and after the num- 



ber of perfpirmances of t\yo- groups 
pf . stations is; tabulated the '.'sample'' 
is taken as a .basiis ;f or computirig the 
total nuniber . of perfbrmarices for 
all B.Ml stations. Each tinje that . a 
BMI • cohipbsitibn is perfofmed pn 
the air, the comp.bser; is paid at the 
rate Of brie cent . per per f Orniance 
per. station; .: BMI' estiriiates, but 
dpes riot Explain the basis for this 
estimate; that, popular songs of; 'Hit 
Parade* calibre receive frorii 100,000 
to .1 80,000 perf orniances and . ;that ac-^; 
cordirigly 'BMI coinppsers of such 
hits .would ..receive frprii $l,0()d. i,o 
$1,800 in. radip paynients. 

CJene- Biick ' a stateri^nV 
published in ;.thc,^^^^d press 
'Mbndny> (30) • publicly named 
Edward. Klauber; executive vice, 
president ; . bf the . Gplunibia . 
Brbadcasting System, as the 'man 
behirid the strategy of the;: 
broadctksters.* 



as the . legal battleground . for the 
Donald Flamm is, 'according: to; niusic war invoiying the American 

Society of Goniposers, Authors 
Publishers, ; Broadcast Music, ..Inc., 
NBCJ and CBS was of course front 
page stuff iri the local dailies, which 
have ^deybted columns to the story, 
and the public here is fully, arbiised 
as to. the import of the case, already 
anticipating the visits of the 'Who's 
^yho' of the music world when the 
jcase, opening next Monday (6), real-, 
ly Rets urider way. ■ 

There is considerable speculation 
as to the status pf Federal Judge F. 
R\'an Duffy, who ordinarily would 
I have jvirisdiction bver the case and 
j irhpanel the grand jury to be . called. 
'. shortly after court opens; When he 
■ - — : — - , j was iiri United States senator in 1935,. 

$850,000 Deal Duffy introduced the Duffy copy- 

. Washington, Dec. -31. l-FiSht .bill, which passed .the Senate, 
^i- . . . ^. ,j 1 but died in the house. This bill was 

Change of mind ofvDonald Flamm. attempt to rewrite' the 1909 copy- 



the story all over. New York City, 
the victim of » . sensatloinal hoax - 
by pbliiUciant m; 'Washington. He 
is said to have been scared Into 
selling his station, WMCA, out of 
fea:r of it hieing. taken from him if 
he didn^t. He took the first offer, 
closed, an unsatisfactory deal in a 
hurry, later got reassurances, now 
Wants to call oft the deal. . : 

Whether . he . will succeed or 
whether be can prove the story 
publicly are unknowns^ He per- 
sonallly will say nothing beyond 
describing what happened to him 
as 'one of the dirtiest deals in radio 
history.' 



sole owner of, WMCA; New York, 
about selling . his enterprise to Ed 



right .act, taking out the compulsory 
$250 damage' clause, and leaving this' 



ward J Noble. c.and^_magnate and determination of damages to the dis- 
former .Underseeretai^^ of Commerce. the trial court. Under 

presented ..the Federal Communica- ^j^^. ^uffy bill, ASCAP would have 
tipns Commission last week, with a ^cen unable to collect the pii-esent 
unique situation that leaves the fate 1 
of the 1 kw transmitter hanging in 
the air. Recanting of the contract 



under , which Noble would pay $850,- 
000: for the Flamm radio properties 
was, proposed by Flamm^ - 

With the bulk of the regulatory 
body away froni' duty and no rneet- 
ing scheduled until .next week, there 
is lively speculation what will hap- 
pen when the clock ticks to midr 
night. The deal is supposed to be- 
come effective tonight (Tuesday), 
having been approved without a 
hearing Deci 17. 
While there were rumors an up 



(minimum damages for each Illegal 
playing of a copyright tune, unless 
the compbser could have shoWn (iarid 
this admittedly would have been 
difficult) that he . suffered, actual 
[ damages, " ■ 

• Judge Duffy has; been hearing 
cases brought in his court by ASCAP 
without objection from any of the 
litigants and on Sept. 11, rendered 
a decision regarded as a real break 
for ASCAP 'When he refused to issue 
an injunction to prevent the society, 
on . behalf pf Leo Feist, Inc., frpin 
suing Charles Hynek, Manitowoc 
Rapids; Wis., ballroom proprietor, for 



identified individual had ^ Pffered I infringement of copyright. Judge 
' ' ' ' Duffy has failed, however, to render 
a decision in a case argued before 
him last March against Wiley Young, 
presiderit of the Tavern Music Pro- 
tective Association, who r.iihs a *u^. 
biirban nitery and :'\vas iallogedly 
guilty . of . 'copyright infringement. 
Lack of decision iri t.his case has held, 
up other actions that are vperiding. 
. Judge Diiffy is unwilling to com-^ 
nieril on: w'hat his attitude^ might be 
Die .qtieslipn. of. rdisqualifying 



Flamm rnore.cash for his .holdings, 
no ^explanatiPn was made' to the 
Gommissibn by Flamm for asking 
recpnsideration of the .action on the 
Original applicatiori. and^ permission 
to withdraw the papers. Skieptics 
wbridered-. if Flarriiri had . recoiled 
from the idea of pulling out of the 
raidio bu-sinesS or was upset :hecause 
some other propositiori had failed to 

.jell. ■• .■;■;:,. ;••■^;:^■■^:-;;• " 

: The . attitude ; pf . NOble : : ■.', that 

.everything is signed: and sealed, ^yith I hirriself as presidriig judge in the De- 
a quorurii 'bf the Gommjsh lacking Ipartriient . of.. Justice action.; . iSome-.. 
and.. rio..Aes!>ibn ..due until" attier. the tirries judges ; under siniilar .circiim; 
pact became eliiective, ; Williarn ' Jv^ withdraw frofti- a- case be- 

D.empsey and . William Koplowitz, the •'- ' ;of liribr interest arid sbhie ob- 
purchaser's attorneys, made no .move ' .<jei'vers reg'ard it as possible Judge 
to ; bppo.se the petition, ;waitirig tP 'j Du'ffy riiight do just that. ... 
see whether control wi-ll be sijrrend- j Both Judge. Duffy and B. j.; llust- ; 
ered on schedule.-; .:.;.. ling, the United Stales diistrict attbr-- 
. Unprecedented .move may be a Lncy here, are bif the opiniori Wi.^bdn-- 
headache for the FCC but concerisus i gin .^vvas chosen as scene of Ihe legal 



on 



in..;lcgal circles, is that Flarimii yy.M. 
haye trbiible uriscrambling the brne-. 
lette. ;lr he balks at delivering the 
stock, he probably wbuld be. the lo.ser: 
any Way, as Hhe .Gomniiish-.a.lready has 
given ..its .consent : to' turn infe the li- 
cerise oyer to Noble arid a ' majority 
of the , regulatprS 'seeiri most happy 
to have Flamm— with whorii they 
have had several tiffs, iri past years 
--out. ijf broadcasting. : Ilhcir finding 
that public interest wouild bie scryied 
better with the station under; new 
proprietorship has Tlahim • .eight- 
balled, for a renewal ticket could be 
denied or : revocation proceedings 
.could b« startecl 



battle becaiTse of : the high rating 
which they said the gbyernment 
gives grand juiies . iri this, state,. 
High Type Juries 
'■Members, of the jiirieS 'here are 
picked for .their high' intelligrne<^ ■ 
and their freedom' from, inriiience, 
said Muiitlrig.' 'Iri some other Ibcali^ 
tiesi.Vit has- beeri found -that gran'' 
juries and witnesses both have beeh 
s\ibi'ected to; and Influenced by bUt- 
side . ■ pressure.* ;;• 

■ Annouhcemeht of the local* lor 
the music war has had no effect up 
to now on the three local radio 
(Cdntlnued on page 42) 



Weilnesday, January 1> 1941 - 



INTERMATIOHAt RADIO 21 









1IBC 



;Conllnlied from, page 3; 



hastiness bjr the ^Jrilted States around, 
the nations of HispanorAmerica is at 
' jnorhenls shbWirtg . its. authentic -face.; 
The recent" and mysterious incident 
In Waters &f .Tamjpico,- the lagreement 
of the Yarikees with England that 
permits them to (establish bases in 
tiie Bermudas, Bahaihas, - Jamaica, 
Ahtigu , ; Santa Lucia and British 
Gujatia,- the . pressure tippn ■Uruguay,: 
that the sure, vision of the free 

■ opinion of the Sioutherh Hemisphere 
terms : real riiehace to the sover- 
eignty of the Hispanic peoples, and 

"the- rumors of; leession of /strategic 
^ placies; on the. part <)f;other countries 
. of Central America are sighs that 

■ point oiit -the imrriinent: danger thSit 
is entailed for the lands of Spanish 
America; . , . Spain is present at this 
grave moment for the countries of 
our blodd and gives the ypiee. "of 

: ilarm. The plans' :6f the ; United 
States 'bn the Continent : are already 
above board. Tliie, whole apparatusr— 
economic., military and political— 
.. of - the . Yankees ' has . been set in 
' tnptipn for drowning the yearnings 
. for independence; and" the .growing 
16rces of Hispanic conscience .: in 
jgpknish Ameri ca. Frorii thie 'defense 
of the Hemisphere' to the 'jcpntinental 
• BoHdarity' there glides a series of 
topics, wielded with; the' sole object 
of hiding the eagerness of rapine of 
thei'Anglb-Saxon world th^t is seeing 
Its hegemony being lost in the rest of 
the globe. 

; 'Pan-Amerlcaiii Caricatures' 
.The moving-pictures, the . radio 
,and tiie press are doing . si lot Pf 
boasting by launching Pah-American 
caricature's pf the same propaganda 
that the plutocracy . in ■vyar .has 
carried out In order to humbug the 
people of the United States, during 
the last elections, ; • 

'An unfounded panic is being 
spread: from the microphones of the 
National Broadcasting Co. in Spanish. 

■ The celluloid rolls, thie symphonic 
concerts and dramatic and . literary 
programs are being brpadcast; . . . It 
is an offensive on all the fronts 
against the liberty of Spanish 
America. .... The first zone of in 
fluehee, with strategic positions, al- 
ready in the hands of the ■ Gringo, 
reaiches all the way to Colombia 

A potpourri of" all the standard 
Nazi hates creep into most of the atr- 
tacks. The American radio and Hol- 
lywood become symbols of British 
propaganda, Jewish mercantilism. 
Freemasonry, Monroeism, democratic 
,: <legeneracy, dis^ised imperialism 
and whathaveyou. Further para- 
graphs from the sairte' source, bear 
this put: : 

'The American motion pictures, 
devoid of human ' content and 
mere spring in the machinery for 
crushing the yearnings of, inde- 
pendence of Spanish- America, are 
trow being devoted almost exclu- 
Bively to the- falsification of the 
great present-day developments 
the world over, and they are an-, 
hoiinclng that froni now on they 
will launch Pah-Anierica subjects. 
• According, to the, mouthpieces Pf 
Yankee; mption pictures these Iiave '. 
In 'stbrp; fpt ' US a series;, of 'films ; 
.wherein, the triumph: oif sex appeal, 
will be. adorned, with pictui-esque . 
and typical raiment of thie aborifii- ' 
nal Hispano-Americaih v^onien: the 
>: bctayalb of Ecuador full, : of In.ca 
: ' evocations; the gay ipPllera of i*an- 
~ .,■ ama in w.hom there .wUi Ije. m.ijced ■ 
V. P°'''ion' of Arjdaiusian gracefiil- 
. . . iiess- of a: postal card a:nd the ^hdo- 
•...^^ence_pf the tropics.' The Nprtli: 
..Americans . are decided to; demon-, 
strate to the couhtries of .Soirth ,. 
"Anierica . their 'gobdWill; -iand, as; .an .. 
example, they are goiihp! to siipply 
. with good neighbor .film.s-rfilms 
of adtiiation that . wiii . dqipe ' and 
. hide . the intentions of .exppnsiph • 
. 'that shrbucl their. nice little phrases • 
of collective defense. Behind the' 
ihpving picture insiiits there is be- 
glrihing- t he ■ era. of condescension, . 
• Nothing. further froin- the 
. of Mr. Schenck ahd Pther producer. s. 
than not to obey- the guiding lines ' 
..of Washington . and tp '-win at' .the 
- .saine time the most inippftant mar- 
4. \ ket ;that has' been left to t^em "by 
' . . the war-. The.poison hjis suddenly 
' f-^r-. been ropliiced . 'with flattery./ Thi,< 
.■ . immense: ta.sk that'encompas-sevS. all 
.the sectors of Yankee activity ha.s 
. brutiflcallon-as.its. pUriJose; such as 



nationality pf ,th« people of Span- 

'.ish>America,;.-"- •■.■.■';■■ 
■\:' . Rbyal's' 'Statement'/' '•■ 

Mr, John F. Hoyal, the viccrpres-: 
ident ih charge Pf internatibhal rev 
lations of the trust that ..is called 
National Brpadcastihg CP., declared 
a shprt. time ago that, starting from 
Jani. 1 : nextf permission would 
.be given to" certain radio broad- 
casting stations' of 210 republics to 
the sputh of the.Brayp river to re- 
ceive and: to broadcast: any pro- 
gram Pf Latin- American pfograni ' 
Pf the National" Broadcasting G^^^ . 
Mr. Rbya;! added that, the t)rpgrams;'; 
would be radioed. .Pver ; pp.wer.ful>; 
short-wave ■■■■ broadcasting . statiphs 
on controlled wave's, and that they 
would consist of the news, and dec- 
larations made by officials of the ; 
•. American pbvernmetit and . of . the ■ 
Pah-American. Union, .The cbllab-: ". 
orators, ini this neW -policy Pf- the 
Yankee ; are. very , heterogeneous/ 
They avail thems.elves of .Spahish 
reds— hack . writers at. so. niuch a 
lirte-i-Jewish' magnates, . Masonry . 
and any tropical; lackey ripe for 
selling hihiself. 

'In the ..field of .- pu)>lic.a tipns they . 
~ have already lauiiclieJ. a uidga^iiie - 
of : , up-tb-therrrtinute ; pictures of 
. current events--caricature. of Life; 
:cph;ftisionism' purveyed- vbetwech 
photos and feminine silhouiettes; 
the Readers'. Digest, saturated W'ith'. 
cheaip doctrine and philospphical 
recipes for use of the man in the ; 
street, and still others, all bf them 
Mlfrltten up in Spanish and printed 
;;;in'New.York.'; 




^Ibcf t-.Dpyle Commonwieulth 

- . N'etwork; Anti<^iP!<^^^^ Hos- 
tile IjBibpr Par^^^ 
y\ CoHtroirr— Latter .Criticized 
; Netw;ork Mpvinii: ^Toward^ 
vMonppoly ^^ Putti Na-; 
■ - tipnai V Accottnts . -' 
. ' Ahead of Local Ohes; 














CONCENTRATE LINGUALS 

WC!Olf, .Boston, Puts Ail Foretgoi 
Blurbs In O'lie Segment . . ' 



WEB DISSOLVES 



■'■ ' /'v ' .Sydney,;':pec/-8/ -;' 
; Albeirt.V'Pbyle .■ Coinmon>yeaith 
Broadcastilig' Systenfi; . comprising 23 
commercial statibns;.' lias been diisr 
splved aUege'diy because . of hints' 
from pbliticos of the Labor Party 
tiiat they didn't f ay br the advantages 
thnf npiwnrk- aHvpH'igpra-. TT >ight ; be: 



Toledo's FpreigB trade 
Branches Contact Latin 
Countries Via WLWO 



Cincinnati, Dec. 31. . 

Finst outside municipal tie-ih by 
Crosley's international WL'WQ was. a 
45-minute program. Monday (30) 
night originating in Toledo, O. Spon- 
sored by. . the Toledo Chamber, of 
Commerce, the stanza was designed 
to wrap the wbr Id in .New Year's 
greetings from industries in that city 
which enga;ge in foreign trade. 

Occasion .was the annua) dinner 
for salesmen of Toledo' manufactur- 
ing firms. It was h^ld in the Com- 
modore Perry hotej and was at- 
teiided by 600 persons, including 
Toledo officials. . . ; . 

Broadcast was directed, at South 
America. Joege Mavoral. ^ .WLWO 



developing over, local advertising, 
Comijnbiiwealth is now, but of the 
networlc field altogiether. aind is cpnr' 
fining itself to. the pperatipn of Its 
own cbmnierciai statiph 2UW, Sy^- : 
.ney..'- 

. Lpcal advertisers complained that 
they had been getting the elbow 
from . the stations f in the Cprhmon- ' 
wealth link and the .Labor; Party 
politicians suggested that if they re- 
turned to power they would make 
sure.that commercial radio was corh- 
pietely 'cleaned ixp ' . Labor is not 
currently in -power, but rnere's a pos- 
sibility; of a switch in party power, 
and Commonwealth doesn't want to 
take any risks on future political an- 
tagonisin. 

The local advertisers claimed that 
every time a local station got a, net- 
work account it lifted a local ad- 
vertiser out of a choice .spbt on the 
schedule > and gave it tb-the network 
client. It was also claimed that ha-, 
tional advertisers were making a 
strong bid to dominate the choiPe 
periods on broadcasting schedules 
and that the activity on the part 
of varipu| factbris to cpoperate with 
national advertisers in that direc- 
tion has re.suUed in the creation of 
'cbmmissiPn rakeoffs all 'alon^ thC; 
Aim: ■ • 

All; Locals Now 
becisipn of the Albert-i)pyle grbup 
to quit' network -radio' . means, that 



' • ; Boston; Dec; 31. 
WCOP's f breig.ri language spt-up 
has' beeh .revamped... ' Ins^ of Scatr 
tered spbts previously Used, all s\iclv 
programs yvill be included in a daily ' 
hour and a half block from 10:30 
a. m. to 12 nopii. 

The Sunday grbup. .has also been 
ebnsplidaied, opening ' prieferrPd 
spots to religious, educatipnal and 
comihercial shows,; 




Schenectady, N, Y.,' Pec, 31,- ■ 
Readiera Digest, which recently 
started publication of ia ; South Amer-. 
icart edition in; Spanish, will launch 
Jan. 6 a . quarter-hour evening 
program of excerpts, on WGEO, Gen- 
eral Electric's short-wave station in 
Schenectady,. Spanish shot, fired, once 
weelcly, will conisist of straight read- 
ings, dialoged material; and perhaps 
ah occasional dramatization; ' 

Program will be aired, by members 
of . GE's stable pf Spanishrlanguaige 
miiiersi ; 



London Calling 



announcer, Int^viewed some of To-}the. stations fomeriyi in^ 
ledo's leading -industrialists arid | monwealth link • will now confine 
translated their reinarks in Spanish 



and Portuguese. " 

Cablegrams from foreign salesmen 
of Toledo companies, who acknowl- 
edged ireception of the broadcast; 
were registered with lights on a hyge 
atlas, designating points; of reception. 

Crosley's WLW carried a separate 
15-minute .program, on the affair. . It 



themselves entirely, to, lpcal business 
Labor politicos. have always frpwned 
on anything that might expand into 
a. moriopoiy, and with commercial 
radio through the network idea 
threatening to come Under the con- 
trol of pbvyorful -. business groups 
these politicians have intimated that 
as soon as they Gome into power 



London, Dec. 2. 
BBC spotting, a series around 
names to be given the 50 Anierican 
destroyers shipped this side. Towns 
from which ; new appendages are 
taken hay e cornposites in U. S. A 
recording .unit will cover the lo- 
calities (Richmond; Churchill, Mont- 
gomery, etc.,) seeking local color and 
native interest. 



miked'lby°Fr^d Tester, staff an- I again . they . propose to . take drastic 
" ! steps, against commercial b.roadcast- 

bf ' ers. ' ' 



was 

nouncer. 

Toledo papers devoted gobs 
space; including -frGrit-page spHirges, 
on 'WLWO's internatiocial coverage 
of the' event. 



S; F WOODELL WITH 



S; F; Woodell, ;ad.- 
vertisin'g manager for PackaTd's ex.' 
' port division since 1931, will on; Jan. 
15 becdnie a salesman in 'NBC's |n- 
.terna'tibiial .' division.'.. . 
.; He will, be oh the staff of, L; P, 
Yandcllj-.iTiatiager ;.bf (jomm.ercial .inr 
te.rnational - broadcasting;; ; '- . : . . .. 

■ - ■ 'Washington, Dec. 31," ', 
Large block ..of Columbia .Broad.r 
casting Sy.stem stock :ln the.name of 
Paul W.-Kesten;. .web yice-president; 
■■ changed bands- ip .OetobeV; Dcnying. 
he. is benehcial .owner of the paper; 
KoVteii! reported -1p the Securities :& 
"Sxchangc Cpriimi.ssion . he pe'ddled 
■ 1.000 shares pt"Cla."!.s. A common, cUt- 
.tin'g the portfolio' to 1,50(). ' '•- \- 
."Two batches- were unloaded,' 2.00 
«harcs one da/' and - 800 the riic^ct 



Church *>< Enpland: 

^CHi^rch bf England authorities, are 
seeking -a license , tp operate. ;tl^eir j 
Pwn commercial, slaliph ih; this'-sce 



: John Gielgud airs : the Henri 
Guadier part in Gordon Daviot's 
stageplay 'The Laughinjg Woman.' 
Drama was written for Gielgud 
origihally, : but commitments pre- 
.Vented -his appearance in the theatre 
pirPduction. 



Bryan . -Mlchle's t a k e .o v e r ^ o f 

.'Gramaphpne. Omnibus' 'il ease foa^ 
lure intb the weekly cl'a.ss. .Ser.ics is 
a disc, session v/ilh .a;^n'avbr;.. 



.Ice: Itockey ijrPadcasts at Tbcontb: 
and .w'aied . by-' CBS for airing ' to 

^ _ Gahuck tropps this, .side are. building 

tor arTd 'they'^ have' approached -Sir. I up .'a native .audience - of fan'-s: ■ • Spipl 

' " airs - here 5.30 .p;m., .Sundays— grab- 

'bing'a -.hefty' aiidjcricc; " ;v. ' ' 



Beh 'Fuller, fortT)cr-~ vaude; ' theatre 
an^ radio station operator, about op- 
erating j-he' outlet it. they-.-gei;: it; 



PIERRE AND FRANCOIS 
SCRAM CKACJONTREAb 



. . Reg: Purden re^)lac6s eyril Fletch 
.er on 'Howdy Folk.s'.' Mu.^'ical.stan; 
za is ' set. fo.r . a further run: : . ■■ 



. ; ' Wishihgtp Dec, 31. 
;Insistence upon teohnicalities by 
sorne of the signatbties; combined 
with another, uhdercpver iatt'empt to., 
scrap the ;cl^rTcharinet . theoryi . ; 
threafeh's .to .iipieit plijns fPr, radio's; :: 
Marph 29 . -hipvihg. . day ' tb. put IntoiV ': 
eftect the reclassifications - of the.' Ha- . 
yaria Treaty; It looks Increasingly 
probable that some postponement, 
will be inevitable.: ' A row in. tha - 
senate, which " Might ..: . cpncei vahly ~ . 
wind up in .Tepudiatipn of the North . 
Americah Regibnar Agreement, al-so'^ 
is feared;- ; although . the Rbosevelt . 
administration, including . si; rhajPrity 
pf : the. . Federal Communications ■ 
Commission, is trying tb avert ;any 
such^ devel piprhen t. . ".. . 

.the; confused situation grows put 
Pf the matter of. official notifi.c.aiion . 
of other -piarilies ihat . the signatories . 
are ready -to. go fbfward _ \ylth the - 
reshuffling" of. ' channels and. re4esi^- 
natibn of transmitters; Differences, 
iii; the language of the ritifica'tions ! ' 
and.; - annoiihcementis have caused 
sbme uneasiness, with Cuba particu- 
larly a stickler for cbmpliaricie with . 
all fbrmalities." The Cubans, Who. set' : 
the pace in dispbsihg. of prelimi- 
naries, npW want . to :re-hotify,- 
answering the later subscripitiohs, 

' Dellcafe" 

Delicate .diplomatic eiuestipri hai -. 
arisen. Most 'authorities feel, the 
pact, must , -gb Into .effect March 29, 
the- fixed date, even if it. is not ; enr 
tir.eiy agreeable to all parties. But 
If somebody decides to take more 
time, the dilenima is whether the 
senate would have to go through 
the ratification ceremony a second ; 
time (opening the door for a nevr ' 
assault on the clear-chanhei; pblicy 
and possibly ujasetting the entire, 
apple-cart) and the others would be 
f prced to repeat their rubber-stamp- 
ing act. ';■■ 

If. ; the ciear-chanhel Issue is 
brought Up, results may be dis- 
astrous. Other signatories all; want; 
such exclusive ribbons; regardless of 
how certain U- s; elements: feel* 
as was te.slifled by Mexico's demand; 
for considerisibly. more than she re- 
ceived. As long a.s; the. Cubans, Ca- 
nadians,, and Mexicans feel .that .way, 
it would be hopeless .lb try ; re- 
negotiating the pact in event a ma- 
jority of the senate voted against 
tagging particular frequencies for 
the Sole us^ .of hand-picked trans- 
mi Iters after dark, and all the other 
bericfits, notably prospective execu- 
tion of the Mexican border stations . 
and the erasing P£ interference bcV 
I tweeh this cbuhtry and Cuba, would 
be lost. 

the- official altitude Is; .that the 
i-document has to become operative 
i pn the. specified ;dat(&s, ;This answer - 
I Was given recently to. network, peo-: 
pie' who ..felt ;c:on.[usions ' wPtild be\ 
I m.iriimized.- 'by'.- dcferrihg; the . f re-.'- 
i. quehcy' ishlfls until the daylight sav'- 
'|.-ing - .hour, : killing two . birds, - si-;' 
|.maltaneously. If the Cubans, hb\y- 
'• ever; . act . balky; the 'protpcoi- experts 
\ will .be.:fbrc€!.d to thiimb their, .books ' 
i and the. whole issue likeiy would;bc-' 
I come academic. That is why the 
■ S.ta'te VDepartment. ' '' turning- thie: 



screws as 'unpslentatabusly as pbs- 

i^sibie. ■■■ ;••■.;, '■;■;' ' 



!'--SyH 'Walker;.airs as ^6|d' Bill,' 
famoii?;; dQughboy 'garloon-figuie ;pf. 
I last .war.; . 



. ; - •'' ■ Montreal, Dec. - 31 . J 
Pierre BaViger; 'CKAC publicity di-' ' 

re'ctPr; ■■i'S o'lj loan tb; the -Ministry of: 
■ Information at Giliiwji for the dura-' 
HiPn of the -war. Paul Gclinas" suijs 

for -Ranger at .CKAC. ; .' . : . . -> . 
.1' Francois ;T.-nIi«c'hC!.; -fo;rm.criy hews 
• cen.sor at .«latj('>n; CKAC, ha.s also left 

station tb bcconvo ' pH v;i(G secretary 
;tb th'c.'Sccrcl'ary ;pf,'lhc Province bf 
.'■.Quebec.-' 



Ronnie Hill arid: Peter pipri tither^ 
arijic have authored a .new reyiie. for 
rad i b. It- wijl be ; ca.s t 'w i.th: ,i ead i n g 
names ;from'.-stage. ■ 



; Yvonnie Arnaiid,; aclre.^S. ah tal-: 
;ented clas.sical pianist, guestihg, on- 
'Startime,' ■'' ' ■ ' 



RIO PARANA LAUNCHED 
WITH; i)X TORNE^ 



. 'J :P'hiladclphiai .D,oc. 

Believed to be aiibther 'radio; first* 
■'Wa.s...-the; brohdcn.sting laiil- week of 
the- l.iiVinching of the . 'Nloovof JilcChr- 
vni'ack ■ South •' American ' lipc'r. 'Rio 
I Parana' to Latiii-Am6ric.'in .cburifrfcs 
:'.via ; WCAU's ..short-wave slati;/n,. 
■VfCAK '-■ ' 



K.eh Niles;is anhbuncihg the line- 
feeding on Bcn-.'B<vrnie shb ovc.r 
NBCibiut!, sinc^ the shift tp.Hol.ly'r 



wijlA droAvn : We'' TO Class- B, 



Kes'ten also is listed- as' owner of 800 i,woo.d, Dan ScympUr had a^signmeht 
- - ,- | in New York^- ..-^ . ; . : ' 



•Rajio '. Romeo/, . new ,, character 
. handling BBC .disc. .scs.sion Ijpws in' 

. response Ip request from 'iropp.s. that '. , .The. 'ceremonie.s, Including the 
some, indefinite' character -.<;hould i.bie.ssi.ng. of ihe/ve.-i.sol' by Cardinal', 
handle ' their ..'.tune,. ■ messages' to . Dbiigh.crly ' wnre described . .by. 
. .swisethr^nrts and .^yivcs...^ Boys no . WCAB's .-^pani.-^h' spieler, Adrian 
liked idea; of rcguliar announcer Rubio, 'in one, long conrimerciatl for 
l yoieiDg intimate '.spiel. - . Mopre.-rMcGprmack. ;...'.- . . ..; 

■ ■';■ ^' ' ■-;.'>" ■' ■' ■•'■•■' •.' ; ".v ■. 1 ^-^ : 



il RADia 



WeineBdtiyt January 1, 19il 




.St. Louis, Dec. 31. 

KMOX is th^ third CBS stetlon to 
ditch' major- league baseball broad: 
casting lor the 1941 season. For the 
past . ' Seven ,:'ye&ts^. ■ KMOX . with 
France Laijx in" thie role of . ;Chief 
spieler - has been airing, all ■ home- 
gam.es: of the Cards' and Br.oyms 
irbm Sportsman's ' 'Park. Kellogg, 
Socbn^^ Vacuum and General iMills 
haVe been the bankrpUers,, th|^ latter 
two during : the past. -two ieaspns. 
Merle Jones explains that . With baser 
ball oiit: five, strips for Geheral Mills 
and programs . for .Colig^te, Procter & 
Gamble and Wriiley w^ remSih oh 
CBS durjrig.the entire ySar,:; . . 

Formerly it \vas necessary fot .the 
accounts to go off the air during the 
20 weeks, of baseball, . shift to other 
timiB or: go to other markets; Under 
file , new: setiip, Ken Church, sales 
manager, for ICMOX will -haVe but 
two: 15-mihute • strips, sbetw^eri 3 and 
6-pim.j:t6,5ell..-: 

Only two other, local stations are 
certain to broadcast. basehsiU next 
Beasoh; KWK has. been in-, the field 
lor many years and. last season 
KXOK. joined with Charles 'Gabby' 
Street,' fbrmer Caridihal . manager, 
"vyinning Ip'tS; ol ..lollowers >ylth his 
. between innings artalysis :for the 
Hyde Park Braweriesi 



Fjfley^YaiikeleYlch Co 

WHEREBY BELGRANO, BUENOS AIRES JOINS CBS 



(^ristmas Day Anfo 
Accident Fatai 1^^ 
Bill Dye, Stanley Kaye 



Cleveland/ Dec. 31/ 

Christmas . day - auto cirash here 
.claimed life of 'William Dye, former 
radio executive for :intetstate Adver' 
tising Agency . and coll|^orator of 
Bill Ackerman on cujreht Diiqueshe 
Beer sportsmieh's prograhi via 
WTAM, Cleveland. Dye was 27. 

Dye joined Interstate eight year? 
ago to handle agency's radio shows 
and broke ground, for recent tie-up 
. with' Ackerman: three years ago. 
when latter was doing sportsmen's 
show for Caniield Oil. Dye at time 
was writing, commercials • for pro 
grams and recently left. Interstate 
to join Ackerman in radio work and 
Hunting and Fishing. Guide publica- 
tion.;. 

Christmas day auto accident 
proved fatal also Iqr Stanley Kaye, 
local advertising man, who headed 
agency bearing his name. . 
, Kiaiye handled i. J. . Fox account 
which currently has two daily shows 
with Helen . Wyaht, organist, and 
Dick O'Heren, sihger, aired via WHK 
and WCLE. 

Kaye,: native of New York,, came 
here six. years ago. He was 35. 



HUMBLE OH. AUO 
SPONSORS BOWL CAME 



. Sah Antonio, Dec. 31 
The Cotton £towl jgame to . be 
played at Dallas on New Year's Day 
between the Fofdham team and the 
one irbm. Texas A. .& M. College will 
be given 'double coverage' In the! 
state. . HUtnble Oil &: Refining Co. 
will sponsor a broadcast pi the game 
to the Texas Quality network. Game 
is to' also be sponsored over the Mti,- 
tual network by Knox -Gelatine Co, 
. ^Reports, had been that this was to 
Ibp "an; exclusive broadcast lor the 
inci' .: 



ill the OHi^st 



Gres6eht Hour: 61 Music (Crescent 
Macaroni), plde;^ continuous coih' 
merciai brpadcasi on any tadip sta- 
tion, will celebratefits 1,000th con- 
secutive airing over WHO oh . Dec 

28' ■■; . 
The program started April 17, ir25, 



Hayes Adfis- a Ti^jei 

Arthur Hull Hayes , has' been, ap- 
pointed geheral manager of WABC, 
New Yprk, key outlet ol CBS. He 
became sales manager ol the station 
In 1937; alter three years as eastern 
sales managet, 

. He. continues as sales manager as 
. well as geheiral manager. 



' Buenos •Airesi'bec- IS;' 

■ Bet^i'een ithe Coiuiinbia Broadcastirig System, herein-' ., 
after called Coiumbia, party of the .first. part, aiid Mr. -.: 
Jaime Yankelevich, hereinafter called Iladio Belgrano,. 
party of the secpnd part,: this fpRowing agreement is.^ . 
resiched;- •■ ' ' :■::-."■•.■■':■ •' ■■."".'.',, '■: 

■ y DEFINITIONS - ^ 

V 1. Columbia :dedicates itself in the United States - of 
America to the exploitatioh of a. radio transmissions 
network, and is constructing two- intcthatipnal stations 
which: will brpadcast with a ppWer of 50,000 watts, 
each,, capable of transmitting programs to Radio Bel-; 
grand, who \V:ill re-trjansmit them. . All programs so , 
transmitted by Columbia are called 'international. prOr.V . , 
grams.' . The international programs for w .' 
bia rfCieiVes payment: frprri /its customers shall be - 
called 'paid programs' and those which are.' riot paid 
shall be. called ?susta:iried; :program's.'/ Bpth jparties, : 
that is. Radio' Belgraiip arid Golu.nibia,. recognize .that - - 
the number of listeners will increase, and willingness, 
comprehension and cooperation will be greater, if in . 
Columbia's programs are included special numbers lor 
thiie: Latin Ariierican republics,: 'always provided that in 
each couritry ari exclusive re-trarismissioin; 'is made, by . 
thfe local siaitioris. Such international programs will 
inblude news of hatipnal and iriternatiohal. events, mur 
sical presentations, drariiatic works arid other entertain- " 
ment coming from ihe United States, as also. informa-; , 
tive, edUcational> bultural - and general interest pro-^' : 
gri4ms,.and all others of public acceptance and ihtereSt. 
By virtue of the above, Columbia designates Radio Bel- 
grano, and; the;, latter .accepts this designation, as its 
only arid exclusive rjepresehtative. fpif the whole . of the 
tetritbry of the Argentine ' Republic^ It is understood 
that this designation refers to questions pf brosidcaStingr 
re-transmissiori of :programsr reception >l same^ etc.;.- 
as well as all inegotiiations direct Pr indirect covering; 
the artistic part,: and in general the making up of pro- 
grariiS (liVertaierit), excepting those cases referred to 
at the erid pf : paragraph 11. : These dispositions, as 
well as any others included' iii . these, preserits. with 
regard to. the riiaking up of prpgrams, dp. not refer in,.- 
any case to trarismissious of news". 

FREE SUSTAipitS 

2. Columbia authorizes Radio. Belgrano to receive and 
re^triansmit all Sustairied programs, withbut payirig any-. . 
thing for same, as well as those others the broadcasting 
of which is requested by custpriiers.- Columbia estab- •: 
lishes that it Will broadcast a minimum average pf 
20 hours per week of paiid arid sustairied programs.. 
CBS AS SOLE AGENT 

8. Radio Belgranp authorizes Columbia to act as .only 
and exclusive representative in the United States, to 
all .c.PmirtierCial and artistic. erids, prPvided Columbia 
Is able to render satisfactory services. 

EXCLUSIVITY 

4. It is agreed that Radio Belgrano, with the stations, 
depending Pn it, .will make transmissibns as the exclu- 
sive broadcaster of Columbia in the Argeritine Repub- 
lis, that it will announce' therit in this way, atid agrees 
not to broadcast or re-trarismit the programs of any 
other station or ch^in of stations in the United States. 

TRANSMISSION aUALITY 

'i5- 'Radio Belgrano will re-trarismit the paid interna- ". 
tibnal programs that Columbia requests it to do sb, pro- 
vided that the technical quality of saime dpes not harm 
the interests of Radio Belgrano, and that they are 
received during the^hoUrs in which Radio Belgrano is 
authorized to broadcast them. Columbia riiay, if It 
deems it advisable, provide such interriatiorial programs 
by means of records, and Radio Belgranp will re- 
transmit them, provided it is requested to do so, in 
place of -or^in addition tp the regular, re-transmissions. 
Radio Belgrano, or the stations deperidirig ori' it; will 
riot transmit any paid jirograiri unless authorized by 
Columbia, Columbia will advise, with a miniriium 
of 10 dayis in advance, of the. initiatioin pf .new Iriterr 
natiPnal programs paid for by new customers, the re-, 
trarismissiori of which by Radio Belgrario is requested: 
by Columbia. 

CBiS STANDARDS . 

:4. ibolumbia has the right to, reject any adveirtiser 
recbriimended by Radio Belgrainp when , it understand^ 
that' the product to be ..advertised, or;.tlie character , of 
the advertising are nbt situable for the Colunibla pfp- 
grariis.' :. : 

CBS JiUST BE CREDITED 

/ 7. In all Cblumbiaiprbgrahis sold b B^lSrano, . 

the arinbunceriients must mention the Columbia Brbad- 
c.asting System as well as the staltiPri: or stations pf 
Radio Belgrano, ' ' ''■ :-'' . 

■ .CQMMiaiCUL LIMITS ■ ■ 

fi; Upcini selling Columbia prograhi's/ Radio Belgr^ . 
may riot dedicate more than three minutes to cote, 
merciai announcemerits in each half hour program, npr, ; 
mPre than: one: minute arid a half An each .program of ' 
flftieen minutes', duration,.' Air cpmmeirciial aririourice- 
irierits must be. made: at" the beginning 6t at the erid 
of the programs, and the latter may not be interrupted 
at any time lor the broadcasting oit coriimercial-.ari^ 
"nouncemerits; ■■ -'-..:■.■* •■-:■■ ■' -' 

FINANCING . 

, 9.- It is especially agreed, that: the tariffs pi prices, ■ 
cPnditions, etc., covering the financial part, shall he 
covered in an additiorial agreeriient.^ Payment shall be 
made to Radio Beigrarib by CplUriibia in Uriited States 
currency >y meanS of checks against a bank in New 
York, withiri 20 days fbllowing Columbia's , fiscal pe- ■ 
riod, of lour or five weeks according to eircumstances/ 
duririjg which period Columbia will have . received iirbm. 
Radio Belgrano vouchers lor the paidi iriternatlbnal 



programs: which haviB been re-tririsiriitted by Radip 
Belgranp. Radio Relgranb will send to Columbia, by 
mail, weekly statements b? all programs re-transmitted 
by .the Station, and of all the- Impressions and programs 
tranismitted; on forms to be. .supplied :by Columbia.-: 
Whenever possible; Radio 'Belgrano will make up and 
transmit: recpiids annpuricirig.- .the . paid. Interriatiorial 
programs to be fe-transmitted by the -station. 
: REBATE RESPONSiD^ 

• • ip. Neither Coluihbia .nPr Radib Belgrano shall be 
respbnsible fbr delects ih the transmission or re-trans- 
hiiSsion due to causes: beybnd their contrpl. in .pases 
of faulte br defects in. the transmissibri neither party 
shall be bbligated to, make reciprocal payments and 
the; advertisers shall be relieved pf the expense of their 
. broadcast. . . Neither 'party Shall be guilty before the 
.other for clairiiS rivade by. .third parties, whether: tliey 
originate on account pf lafck of brbadcastihg f abilities,, 
failure pf equipment, ^actions pr protests of. customers, 
. strikejs, br .'any other cause, or : reason beyond the con-^ 
trol of- the' party ; . \- . ■.'fr~'' " :■. -: .- ' ' v- ■ - 

ECONOMICAL" TALENT 

11. Columbia for making up the programs destined 
for Argentine will make exclusive use of the artistic 
services that Radio Belgranp can sUpply, and its pres- 
ent :or future agencies, the attists Ibr such programs to 
be supplied under the most economical conditions .iibs- 
sible.; Likewise Columbia will, supply to Radib Bel-; 

■ granp -oriiy arid -exclusively the attists that it niay 
: eventually need, in a . spirit of reciprbcity, also .under 
the rilost .lavbrable terriiS. Both patties,, however, are 
at 'liberty: to deal directly with the artists or their, 
agents, .when the:pther party 'has advised that it canr. 
not,.comply with the -request. : 

3IXGRAN0 GUARANTEE 

12. Radio Belgrario guarantees at all times the best 
possible- technical : re-trarisriiissiort through proper, 
equipment. 

SUBJECT TO FCC 

13. - AH contractual obligations established herein 
. shall be subject to all the present and future laws, rules, 

regiriientatipnS and decrees' applicable tp the Federal 
CommunicatiprisrCpmmissibn of ^ the United States, and 
the Direction General of Posts & Telegraphs in the 
Argentine, respectively. 

■ COURTS 

14. TP all effects of . these preserits the parties are 
Subject to the dispositioris of the Courts of the United 
States: with regard, to questions that riiay arise with 
Columbia, and to the Argentine CbUrts When the ques- 
tions originate With RadioBelgrano, 

FOR FIVE YEARS 

16. .This contract, with regard to the rcrtransmis- 
sioris, will coriiie into effect nbt before the first pf Sep- 
teriiher, 1941, at which date the international Stations 
mentioned should hiave the license to operate with 
SOiOOO-watt power, and the rulings of the ' Federal Cbmr 
mUnications Commission will permit, the operations 
specified herein, the contract to end on the first of 
September, 1946, 
: With regard to the artistic part in general, the con- 
, tract shall be in force as from the date it is signed. 
Both: parties .in full ragreement with all caluses of 
these presenits, they, obligate themselves to faithful 
compliance with same, in. proof of which two copies of 
the same tenor and to one effect are signed in the city 
of Buenos Aires on the fifth day of the month of De- 
cember, 1940. 




Additioiial Agreement 



There will be in both directions sustained and spon- 
sored prograriis. Radio Belgranb shall have the right 
to sell sustained programs of Columbia upon receiving 
approval from Columbia- in each case. In these cases 
Radio Beljgrario Will: pay 50%: of the tbtal net amount 
it receives from the sponsors to Columblai. Iri each 
case Columbia will negotiate with Radio Beligrano for 
prpgrams Prigiriatirig : in Argentina for commercial 

:Sponsor5hip in the United States. Coluriibia guaran- 
tees that all programs originating iri Argentina will be 
broadcast through the technical facilities, of Radio Bel- 
granp. If- a. sponsor in the United States requests 
re-trarismission.by Radib^elgrario/ with or vwithout the 
Argentine chain, Gpluinbia will pay to Radio Belgrano 
for .jsUch programs 50% of the net local rates Pf Radio 
Belgrano and. its ; chairi,: Radib Belgranb agrees to 
nPtify Columbia at least' 30 days in advance . of , the ef- 
fective date Pf any change of rates. In viewr of actual, 
circumstances; whereby: ColUriibia has powei-fUl • short 

. wave trarismitters -under . . th pWn : :ex"plbitatioriir 
whereas actual laws arid decrees iri ■Argentina prevent 
Radio: Belgrano from having such stations, lUdib iBel- 
granp will have to use: other facilities as program car- 
riers, Ther efpre CblUiribia will : pay alWays ■ the . tec.h- 

.nical expenses ol such transmissions. It is agreed that 
Don ^a:i.m'e Yankelevich alsb has; the right -to transmit 
sustained programs.pri either Radio Belgrano or Radib 
Argeritinia.:: T^ word (chain' refers; to .the present 
known chain in .the .Argentine . Republic (list of' sta- 
tions, follows ). No bhariges'.can be made, in' this, chairi; 
unless by. je^ iredistributibh of ; stations or ; increase in 

. power always the ■ same; cpveragte: can be guaranteed. 
All contracts with sponsors between Columbia and 
Radio Belgrano will hai,ve ia. niaximurii duration of one 
year, and as tb the financial effects, every tiriie a con- 
tract is signed the -pfficial rate' of; exchange between 

. dollars, arid pesos at that monient wilt be taken as a 
basis, for. riegotiations: , If Columbia, sees Within two 
years that financial reasbtis db riot justify the cpntinti- 
atibn.bf this contract, Columbia will have the right to 
cancel, always with six mbriths prior indication,- arid 
in this, event Columbia is obliged ript to make any other 
siqjilar arrangement;, with any : ;brpad.caster in the Arr 
gentirie Republic'for a period of six mbnths after the 

. deflnite explratipn of the contract •: 



; ; Longyiew,;'rexas^ ' 

Station KFRO has cbtripleted p'iahj, 
for its Third. Annual One Cent Sale, 
in corinectioii with the pbservanc'e ol 
the station's anniversary (the sixth) : 
in Jariuairy. The sale is available to 
riationar advertisers who purchase: 
time during . the month' bf .January to ' 
run for more than 13 weeks, .' 

Advertisers who piit'chase brie unit; 
of broadcast service can get .an adidi- 
tioriatl Unit lor one cent. . . . 



Rd; Blue Sidit 
Brjggslnt^ 
As Choizinoff Resijn^^ 



. Separate, press shebts.- Jrthe :perlo«; 
rated Pnps ) will -be issued hereafter ; 
for the NBC blue arid red networks. 
This is one: fUrther step to empha- 
size the segregation of ihe two aririj ' 
of WBG;-;..' .-;:.■ '- 'r s:':::: 

: Meantiriie,. some personriel changes: . 
have occurred, in; the NfiC press de- 
jpartriient at Radio City, Nevir York. 
Bill Neal goes ,to . Washington and 
Bill Norris. supplants . hirii bri-. th*. 
night desk.' ;Charle.s pekor tempo- 
rarily is . handling ti-iade -press rela- 
tions until Bill Kostka sets a, sud- 
cessPr., ' ■ 

John Briggs leaves NBC for the 
New York Ppst to handle the ;m.usl6 
editorship after a breiak-iri period. 
His satirical pieces on how a police 
reporter would review opera made a 
hit with that daily. Snmuel , Chot- 
zinPff is retiring from the Post, riiu- 
sic editorship entirely because- of his 
new. duties ias manager of the NBC 
rivusic division. Heretofore, he has 
been, merely 'musical advisor' to th» 
web. 



JOE REAM MUST REPIY 
TO TWO QUESTIONS 



Joseph H. Ream.- secretary of Co- 
luriibia Broadcasting. Sy.sterii, Inci, 
was ordered to appear for examina- 
tion before trial ' in , the NJ Y. su* 
preme: court Jan. 6, 1941, by Justice 
Ferdinand Pecora, in connection, 
with a suit by Epoch Producing 
Corp. against CBS! .Examination w.ill 
be limited to two questions, ."the 
rights of plaintiff to 'The Birth , bf a 
Nation,', and the . attempts of CBS. 
to; secure a sponsor for its proposed, 
series with the same title. 

Plairitiff is the owner of the film 
rights, : arid claims on Sept. 2, 1940, 
over WABC, CBS ^.broadcast a pro- 
gram using the title 'Birth of a Na- 
tion.' This constituted a violation 
of plaintiff's rights, and an injunc- 
tion^ accounting of profits, arid dam- 
ages are sought. Defense is that 
only Pne brPadcast was given of the 
series, and CBS' stopped as soon a« 
nptified by Epoch. 



AFFRONT TO PRESS 



CrediUng Radio Is Called TacMess en 
Football G.ames : . . : 



; Sari Francisco, .Dec. $1. . : 
Heavy; play radio is getting- iri corir; 
nfeCtiori with the Shrjne East West 
charity game:Wedr)esday (D drew * 
bum from Prescott Sullivan, Exarii- 
irier sports columnist. , In: his 'The 
Low: Down' Ipr -Mpriaay, (23), -Sulli- 
van-cracked::.. ■ 

,'Shririe game officials ought to. ; 

■ be told that no newspaper man 

;. present at ,the Shrine fbotball . ; 

■ luncheon th^ other day . failed to 

' notice -the fact that the press was ' 
;;given. alriiost no credit, whatever ' 

for building the Shrine contest: ; 

into the; sellout : attraction It is 

today. Since . . :ii925, San Firan- ; . 

Cisco newspapiers' havie - plugge.d . 
• awiay . . .yet at the Shrine lunch- ■ 

epn a .group, of oil cbmpany. eic- 
• •ecutivesi .arid p'adio underlings 

toPk all the bows.' ■ : ' - , 
. Referred tb Associated Oil> which 
sponsors maijprily of Coast, games but 
boWed but this year to GiMbtte,, isnd 
KFRC staffers who will .mike the 
play..^ ■ 



Cior'don' Gray, publi.slier,^ Winston- 
Salem ;(N. C.) Journal arid Sentinel, 
plans 50,000 watts, 14,100 k.c, station 
on eiirigman's Peak, near here. 



.WtMliiesday:, January 1* 1941 



BADIO 



23 






Eric Bbden of .KYA,. Sari. Prariciscp, bolcjs' the unique" recQt-d . of being 
the first ;mali evet to ad lib py^r Radio. Athlon^ Ireland. Bpden, prior 
•to wiiVnihg AmeHc;ari Bar AsSPOiation trip tP.Ariverica as charhpibn orator 
ot ireland/ produced a show called 'Ra Diary,' sort 6t a; March of Time. 
Aiter it had bben on the air 'f wo years, they deeidedl: it would be interesting 
io.. find piit .if ' apyone were '.Ustening; So Bpden .scared hedk. out bt the 
entire governmeht vtadip department by /diigr^ssing from. , his script bne 
night and sisklrig . for fan mail. Flood of . letters which resulted saVed. his 
•.job,'-.\:-^" : ■ . ■■-v^- V ■ " V : 

^ Aqhouhcer-producBr since has commuted the Atlahtic seyeri tirries arid 
fbrmerly ^wasVEire correspondent, for various. U;. S;. dailiei -jHis preseht 
. chores incjude.KYA's "'Your Irish. ^ show. /Recently brought over Nan 
McGarthy,- Irish pomposer'singerrarrahger^^^^^ i,^ 
the pld; cbuhtry ajnd is looking .for a similar; brch to batpri here.. Sings saris - 
Bccompaniriierit for- two reasons itV an 'pld ; Irish : custom, ■ (.b) sayies 
.aPcornpanlst fee* : ; ' k ■ ■ 

''. Fred- Weber; Mutual general manager; in a memorahdum ■ to- affiliates 
suggested, that, they studjr the regulations as proposed by.. Mutual to the 
Fesderai Cbmriiunlcatibns Commission and reprinted in the N; A; B. BUlle^ 
,tln :of ipec.'t,. page 4841... ■ ' ■ .-y ■ 

Weber's meino points out that the. Mutual prppos^l-v 'advocates regula- 
•tlonS! pnly in Ibcatibns. wherie there ate an inadequate -niiniber bf rSdib 
stations - of . comparable cpmpetitive^^ and' restriction against cpri- 

trollcd tjontract affiliation pf two stations iii the sarn<^ ar'ei? by otie network 
company.' ; Also; ^sUch' regulation Would eriQpUrage- greater free coithpetitibh 
Ifihd greater va.ried service to . the" p^ 




Frank Kelly, city clerk of Miami, infpi'riis Vabiexy that the city was 
never forjtially . approached in regard, to paying .line chairges for either the 
Jack Benny or .Fred- Allen programs.. Miami never >efUsed tP foot legiti- 
mate publicity isxpenses/ . 'tov6 "niy, NeighbbrV fi Shd iblr'ba'd- 
cak was called .off by ParainbiSht for its own r ' 

Ae.V. Dick Evans, head Pf the;Florida~ Congress bf , Democracy,' gql iliriah- 
■diial aid from Miami tb;.^^^^^^^ db.wri thie NBC Town Hall: forum by. siniply 
appearing before the cityleommissibn and st?i.ting hi.g case.: -Qnly. onerdis- 
iseriting .vote was regrstered.. Mi^mi is .'keen ifpc ' nearly any kiriid of a 
special .atU-action . with^^ 

Qu i^t . resignation oit Gebrge' B. Potter, Ipng-tirft^ meniber . of the Fedr: 
.eral- Gommunieatiohs Coriimission. legal force, from his recerit assignmeri 
bt special counsel to the chain-mbnbpoly . comnfiittee is puzislihg' industry 
observers in . Washington, . Retainied around Thanksgiving to be" prepared 
to argiue- several fundfifflental qUestibns^ of fact, Porter* went pff the payroll, 
a few days after the oral argument e^rly in December. .Significance is 
seen in "the fact he did not .open his mouth during the fprerisics. He's back 
4h private, practice, ■■. :r \ ■ r ' ''' 

. NBC blue is wpndering .hb.w Facts Cbnsolidated. prbgram checkiiig.out^ 
llt ;on. the west. cPast; recently came: tp add Fresno and Tacpma to its 
>urvey . lisf. without including San Diego, or Sacramento; CBS; , It .. was 
ppinted out,: has no station in Sari. Diego. As Facts Consolidated's check' 
Ing . coverage now . stands, CBS is .represente.d by local outlets in eight 
cities, the red. In severi «ities, and the blue, in six cities; lihe blue is of 
the opinion , that this restriction . tends to give a .distorted picture in that 
the blue's ratings suffer from the. omissions.- 



PM, new New York daily; v/hich is pne" of the few papers in the country 
that regularly, takes, cognizance of the fact tha( its readers may also listen 
to radio news . reports^ took a hew and bolder step in that direction Mon-, 
■day.(3tf). •■ ■,• 

Following the President's natiorial deferise. talk' the night before, PM's 
top head, covering hall of page^'one,.was: 'Even If You Heard FDR's Speech 
Youi Should Read It.' Under that was the line, /Ilitler Probably Read 
These Excerpts a. Dozbn Times'; Snatches of the spi^ech'tollowed; 



Mutual, has installed an AP teletype machine at WOR,: New York, for 
last-riiinute. news flashes oyer the network; Will , merely .supplement the 
regular twice-daily news summary and the pther scheduled news programs. 

Idea bf. the AP machine is that WOR,- which uses tIP and Trdnsradib 
news comnvercially, can't supply it to the network. . Plashes from, the tele- 
type machine will be fiut on the, network fi'pm New York, instead bf the 
news havirig to: virait for the regular flveTminute summary from Chicago. 



• Satevepost's Jan. 11. issue will carry a story by Lucien Cary on the 
:Bnnual shoot lof the National Muzzle Rifle Association, held at Friendship, 
.Ind,,,35 miles froirii Cincy. two months ago.' Event is a WLW promotion. 

directed by . Boss Johnson, dean of the station's: staff of. rural gossipers. It 

draws scores of men arid women shooters from all parts of the country. 
Gary's srtory will be illustrated with 10 color and seven black-and-white 

photos by Ivian Dmitri/ 



Milton Diamond, who was in the thick of things for the American Society 
of Coriiposers, Authors and Publishers as far as the negotiations .with the 
U. S. Department of. Justice about a consent decree were concerned, is a 
member of the firrii. of Diamond; Rabin, Botein & Mackay. The last named, 
David Mackay, . is counsel for RCA yictor/a sister subsidiary of NBC in 
the RICA combine. Sirice then the consent decree proceedings have col 
lapsed. •• 



: v WIFE AS SUB 

Seek Sponsor .Okity a? Oldficld Bc- 
. 'cbmes. Army .Man ' .. ■ 



; Lin'dpln, Neb., Dec....3l'; ; ■ 
KFOR's. program , departnieiit is 
busying, itself with njike schooling; 
bf Mrs. Barney Oldfleld, wife of the 
station's fornier Holly wood \%a^ 
who is-nbw a . captain in the .army. 
She'll probably be given the pro- 
gram after the middle of January.- It . 
has been carried oh under Oldfleid's . 
tag since .Nov! : 27, by Bill Messnerv. 
who. labels hiriiself as a /irian Fri- 
day.*^-.;; " ■. l' .'y. ■ 

Mrs. Oldfleld goes to ; 500:01: lilbre 
films annuallyv. Prpgrarn' is .. Spbn- 
spred by the. J. H. Cboper-Par thea-: 
Ires." : ''^ ' ■ , •' 



Crbsley Men Join Army 

Cincinnati, . Dec. 31. 
Ensign ■ Herbert Erirjn, ph the 
CrpsJeyx engirieeririg . staff. sii^ce'.'lDSiB, 
left last week for the Canal. Zpne to 
becoriie a Naval pfeierVist. ' Lieut. 
Robert Booth, . a- WtW-WSAl engin- 
eer since 1933; departs Jari; 5, for 
phiiadelphia: to .becpitie. .an 'initruc.T 
tor of ailrplane'. raidip engineering, ; 

Jay ]FiJc, WSAI- announcer sirtbe 
last June,, enters the Army via the 
selective "service :fQute Jan. 20. ' 



€10 llnion Or^mizes 
PWlly for te^ 
On Radia Engineers 



Philadelphia, Dec. 31. 

The . American : Commuriications 
Association (Cib) has set up head- 
quarters hete.fbr. a national orgian-. 
ization drive: of radio stations. At 
a meeting held of reps of locails frbrii 
Philly, New. York, Buffalo, Wash- 
ington, Baltin\Pre and other, nearby 
cities, it was voted to establish , a 
National Broadcast Division of the 
AC A tb bring ^he personnel of the 
riatipn's studios, into the fold; The 
executive board of AC A; which has 
14,000 members, pledged its financial 
support to the campaign. 

L. E. Littlejohn, WFIL engineer 
and president of the philly local of 
■the b''oadcast division. Was' named 
secretarj^-treasurer of the national 
drive, Saul C. Walclbaurn, local CIO 
attorney, was appointed national 
cpunseL .■' 



Coihmitteei Inyestigiatecl :P Adviqe ' Biiireau 

. Cbunselioi' aiid Lodged Protestsrr^ 
■ - Spcikl Workert^^^^^^ *Oet Matf and Spiiiietjbmg^ 



puce Quip Creep 



. Much cbmment heard, around, 
the .trade Monday (30 ) about the . 

.latitude' which; ■ 'NBC allowed 

: Jack Beriny in his .script of the . 

-day :befbre. .. fFor . th€i first time 

•the network let down ; the hai- 
rier^ against any persbhal. . re£- 

.erences to. Hjtler and Mussblihi; 
by the: di'amatic or comedy prp>, 

IgfamrouteJ.,.'; 

Beriny .wrapped: his barb in an 

-allegory. .Hg..flrst..sppke^pf^ 
.two hoodiunis across the ' ^poTj 
who were raising an aWful meisi 
and then added, 'One of those . 
guys doesn't seem to be happy 
about it right now.' 






.MirineapoTls,- Dec... 31. > . 

On three days' "notice and .at the 
Blow advertising agency's request. 
Station WCCO conceived, produced 
and arranged to ha Ve surveyed a 
half-hour Variety show whitX , was 
aired for the first tin>e last Saturday, 
Dec. 28, at 676:30 p.m. (GST), Biow 
had called for a homey type of ^a^ 
riety sho^y featuring the sprt of mu- 
sic : which, it is believed, . has the 
most appeal for the Northwest audi- 
ences;. as well as any comedy angles 
and personalities which' the station 
might be able to inject. ; The show 
was for possible sponsorship by an 
'unspecified' client (Philil> Morris' 
other nariie. at Biow). And WCCO 
decided to take a .flier on it. 

Result was a . half-hour show 
called. 'Down at the " CroSSTbads.' 
Using . WACO'S coniedians, jCIellari 
Card arid Eddie Gallagher, the pro- 
gram was based bn . the 'doings of 
the .' folks in :Red Eye • Township^' 
Hayseed gagging iand the 12-piecc 
WCCO orchestra, vocal, octet. Har- 
monica Twins, .Harry Habata and his 
accordion, and' a new vPcallst and 
yiviari Fibrin,- i7-year-old St. Paul 
sopraho; ' . 



Walter Maier of LudMbns Ciit^^^^^ 



CKLW/ W.indsor, Sileiices Cle;rgyman as He Says 
U. S. Govemmeht Might Censor Him 



V. Kaltenborn, after tiepbrting an estimate .'by NBC that .75% bf the 
^0,000i.000 sets . in the ^U. S. would be tuned to. President Roosevelt's Sunday 
night iife^ide 'chat, and that 'perhaps' there woul^ bf, *80,00Q,060 listeners,' 
declared 'Tiiis meahis that radio has made it 'possible tb: re-create 'th^ free 
:. iassembly of all. pebpl^ ii thb; sarrib tinie, 'a thing ■ iinpossjblc sinde the time 
nf Athens ih the days of the Greek re 

. :F. T. .Tufcker, ;director of - advertising fbr^ Gbbdrich:.Go.i declares 

- that ;he's lppking. forward tb 1941. as;: the .company's biggest year in the 
.mariufactui-er.^of tires;. : 'Hence his pxpiessed surprisb to . t^ in 
' .adyortisirig .dlrcl^s that Gpbdrich is .cpn.sideririg a- change in :pbi(icy Whibh 
. wbiild reduce it^ tiremaking^b^ pf its ■facili-; 

tfes to. the production, of other rubber .gobd5> ^'^^^ . ; : ..V 

■ . J. • Stiriinjg 4i;- founder- and. ivead ;'o£ the. adyertisirig agenpi^ 
. Which ' beats his nanie^ who died- of .a stj-^ptodpccUs iinfectioii Dec. 17 . in 
New York, was among the- nation's. 10 biggest agepciei, .but it-had iiWe:tb. 
dp 'with;radib. Amongithe larger Getcheil accounts, are Spcpiiy- Vacuum OU, 
l>evbe : &; Rayri Paint and .the Piymputh, DeSotp arid Airtemp diyi-: 
• sibns-.pfChrysle):.eprp;. , ■ '■ ''1^/^ ' ■■:■".".( 

Ward Wheelbck- is understood looking fOT head the agency's 

.'radio departriients in Philadelphia : and: New, York. . C: M: Rbhrabaugh,. 

present radio head, is .believed .slated, to be assigned to active charge of 

the PalnipJ.ive accburit, which: the agertCy;^^^^ : . 



St. lX)uis, Dee. 3L- 
' There is a likelihood; that a cpm- 
plairit Will be made to. the Miituaj. 
Broadcasting System by Rev. Walter 
A. Maier : of . Concordia Seminary 
here, because h'S 'talk on - the 
cbast-tb-Gpast .Lutheran hour prp: 



who plead to hurl the country in'tb 



.John ' J;!. . Arithbriy,;; dispenser . pf ' 
•persbnal .advice' ■ .the. NBC net- ; , 
wbrit ;'Gbpd :Will .HbUr^ prpgram, is 
attacked;but nbt by name in .an. arti- 
ble. i?y MacErinis Mbbre appearing in 
the latest issue, bf the riiigazine 
Social Wprk; "Today. The article 'r:e:. 
veals the fact, that a ' radio cbririiriit- ■ 
tee was formed in IJISS within the 
New; . Ybrk , chapter bf tiie; American. .. 
Association pf Social ViTorkers to 
chock lip :bh' this prograrii and ' to . 
call. : uppri; ;.;ind Ipdge protests with, : 
the sponsor; the advertising agency,- 
theS brbadcastbr and tlie ■expert.; dls-?;: 
"penser i-himself..:-: Additionally. it-Bd;v: 
dressed ..the -PCG arid ; the Arriericari^ 
Wledical Assbciatipn. '•. . 1 . ' 

Nothing came of the whole effort 
apparently except Moore's article.- 
. He : Is field . ■ ireprbsenta five bf . ' .the - 
Amerfean Foundation foi:\the Blind. 
While. r.eveall.rig that the' radio, cofe 
'rtiittee has disbanded Moore subeap-V ■ 
tioris his piece 'Get mad next Sunday. 
! and do', something, abput . it.'; " : 
' . Cohcerri 'for the kind; bf 'personal 
advic.ie' . bureau, .that- Anthony., op- 
erate^; for prpflt is a'ccompariied by .' 
another' cpricern. Social - service , 
wprkers feel that whereas Antbbriy 
or others , pf his typie ^are uti-:: 
desirably exploiting human;siiffering, . 
confusion and ■ ignorance' they; the 
trained, speial wprkei*S; • have been • 
.pictured -. top often as unattractive, ; 
bfficious, unkindly ;t)ersbns. . , Moore - 
reports: 'The Chicago Social Work 
Publicity Council, going Into its 
sixth year of radio interpretation «f 
social y/brk Is launching a new pro- 
graim, 'Constance Grey— social work- . 
er' whlch will attferiipt to picture the 
social . wbrkier as she "is— a likeable," 
human -persDri ' by. . means in- 
fallible but trying to. do a' sincere 
intelligent Job. of helping people in 
trouble.' A new cooperative deal 
with KXOK, St; Louis, is also re- 
ported.. ■ Moore describes 'trading 
upon human .diffjciilty' over the air 
in the following passage: ' 
: 'Sunday night.. Jack Benny and 
Walter Winchell haye , made their 
weekly contributions to American . 
culture. and are silent. Twisting the 
dial for a little good muSic tb fortify 
us for another ; week's v>ork we come 
upon two voices in ponversation; One 
is unctuous, suave; professiohal, The 
other Is a comriibri voice of the 
streets— but troubled.. 

'It is the hbUr if nerSonal advice; 
It is the hour in which a commer- 
cial radio station sells time to a con- 
cern marketing a product which, in 
June; 1935,. the Federal Trade Cbrii- ; 
mission had ordered to .stop making . 
extravagant, claims such as over- 
night elimination of indigestion,, 
constipation, nervpusncss, .skin erup- 
tion.s:^v€rnight conversion of the 
.skinny ;and the scrawny intb the 
Bu.ster Crabbe and the Eleanor 
Holm. • 

'It is the hour of personal advice 
the hour In. which a regular .supply 



:wat get frije use pf .the radio while i of free talent is procured by the .sim- 
we who pay full station rates to l pic device of : trading upon the 
preach are cut off the air.' Campeau . troubles of confased people throuijii 
explained his action by stating. 'It-' cbnyincing them that a three-minute 
was the feeling of the management; pep-talk river a national hookUp by 
that the stateriients being made war- 1 an, 'expert In .human relations' will 



gram originating at- KUFO' and fed 1 ranted', oiir action. We are held te- 1 pr'alft , ro.scs into the thorn.s of per- > 
to : the web by -KWK Was: ;tut oip- sponsible by the Gaft 'dian. . Censor- ; • al.or sbcJarairony.' .;It-|s"thc hpiir 



year of ' broadcasting bn the.Lutherr j.bfr.put off;- especially when' nb script 'expert')— :ire coriceirned.: 

an. Hour,. said -he beliieves CKLW cut.i IS. submitted in; advance." . . , : -,. , 'Yes. Mr, -X : is troubled. 'I.sn't all 

him' off . because he told' his iisteriers ; . The -tulheWh- JlOut is. jparr>d di: cyidont; he i4, teliing. 1,000.000 

r>,._..-.. . . . triljlidn 

to death 

V -:np . 

5 a month is go! n)? to mcitn/. Mightn't 
; Sing 'God. Sayeahe King' • ! .. ' hf! get , more mon.ei' if ■ he left the 
^Detroit.. Dec.- 3i;. ■ !.job''arid'got-bri:rclief? ■ -V 
Support ; of : the CKLW's . act,lb|n. - ; . 'The exDcrt is'/nutri-' ied, ;;Wpuldh't 



him off . because be told his listeners ; . tjic ijumeran. Hour is. carried ai- -cyicif;nt. There he is. telling, 
that his broadcasts., would : be cen- ' rcctiy. by 13l stations . every, Sundiay | pcpnlc— perhaps -scvefal 
spred, in.'. the event the U.'S, entered, and; . another : 144- . station^. . prpscnt I — nil abb it, .-.Hp's scared ' 
.ths..War.> :' v: - ' . the..progralrh. by.'e.j.- . ..' • ' af..\Sh<'t.;havi<v" .r .^^^^ 



Shortly 'after Dr.-' Maier declared, 
'This may .be.thfe last Chri.s'tmas sca- 
:sori' .in ■w.hich'' .i;:ani . permitted.: to 
-Speak- to. you fbr, if a .state of ;erher- 
gcricy'^is declared and. the radio put 
.under . .government, cphsbrshipi, : .1 



^ .bt.,C'oigate-PalrnoIive-P'eet- advertisirig^^^i^^^^ tb 

the new TCd Bates agency, $2,200;06o to Sherman & Mai-iquette bf Ghicagp 
arid, $l(76o^00a to Ward Wheejock,; : 

. Bates is to have: the publi(i irelations part of all Colgate biz, howeyer. 

: W. L, White is again- broadcastirig from Londori ori CBS transatlantics. 
White, whose vivid: descriptions of fighting . in the Russian -Finnish war 
moved Bobert ShierwoPd to -write "There Shall Be No; Night,' has aired 
from England, ■Gfenriany, Finland an.d .bther .European countries.,: 



.came f rorii oh? of .Windsor's pastor s'" '. it be a sigh of. de."(*rieracy -oii: hl.s part 
•bf tiie. same, faith when the: Rev, Hr:'^^ 
have no delusions' about the i[act that J pastor, Of the First, Luthe-i . the baby- think Pf.him:VAiicri it n:rew 

the *T€ligiPUs. prbgrar ,ii- permitted tbv rah Church thiere, said. 'The Congre^ iip?. Hadn't; the North wost Wppds 
continue ■ will be;- -the . riiessages :;bf . gations pf all -Lutheran, chUrch,es in . be.en peopled by fblk-^.wjth babies—' 
the: modern I; unbelief - which- .even I.Canada. Sing -'Gpd.Sive the -Kihg'.'at.' -who . '"arlp •? Ifif .J,'"-.-';' -ihr ''.^i. 
now, through tiie suppo'rt of Amer- ! all .Services, and, thiey all mean; it.' . month? : Don't, be ..social . de- 
; icari -niiliionaires ,and discr.itnihatihg . Lutheran? are ' usuaUy of .pbrmanic; . gcnersle. V-'Bu.ck '.i^^^^^^ m.un\. - 
■ churc^i federations, have. secured. ail des;cent, ---...::.'■-.:-;•;,■. ..: :- ; j .-.'^ you'n iv'v.'br'.> " r .^v"yi ri-^ 
but. a stranglehold " Von 'religibus ' ^ In ^the speech blanked but. of the talks .(real tedi'.s.'are. -betfol^prte 
broadcasts,' he ; was Siienc.ed' by . the ' Canadian ; area,', the Sti'- Louis. otcric miKht al-so say^'riiorp profltable-- 
Ganadiah- station. ,> . . , declared . that , ^the United: Statc.s ;^' :radia copy, than: caretully rehearsed 

: Maier was .iiriaw^fe of. CKLW's. ac-^ ' headed, for ' >war' arid 'the cpnsic- ;orics) . wants lb know why, jC^st be^ 
tibri until 'he began recQivlng tele- ! qUenqe.s even after; yictpry. arb :r'3use ..shc'.s liv.irig. with; a; riian not 

grams fi-om the Windsor arid Detrbit:.. rying,:; While . .we • .stili. ;have.- free' . its . fathpr.. she Cannot" lake her' child: 
areas, ; Wheh told -that J. E Cam- ' speechVl want to raise, my voice in . awhy. frpm. the o.rph.'inage as often 
p^au,.' director 'of . CKLW, had : naitibri-wide protest against, the tac-. • , she wishes. : The .exnrrt; 'What a 
brder^d .the cutoff, Maier said;: 'This : lies of c<5rtairi educational leaders; .terrible: thing to ria. . Why did .you 
is. an '"exhibition; of; fatal incbnsist--; and piarticularly. clergymen, all pf . put :ypur. child In an orphanage In 
ency and discrimination, when m.fen ; them too old to fight' , ..f the. Hrst place?' 



24 



RADIO 



Wednesdayf January 1, 1941 




UP JACK BERTELL 

He's Tbird V.>-P. on Coionibla Artl^ti, 
; ;In6., SMS 



Washington, Dec 31, ■ 
War on ;the disseniiriation. of false 
end misleading advertising broadr 
casts appears tQ have been declared 
by the Federkl Trade Cbrnmissiori in 
a string ;of cease and desist ;orders 
aiid -show cause orders against nat 
liorially-khoiwrt. drug companiest' 

Charles H: Phillips Chemical Co., 
N. Y., makers of the. w.k. Phillips 
Milk of ; Magnesia,- was handed, a 
cease and' desist order for represen- 
tations 'made . about the curative 
powers of two skin creams it has 
been . bally hooirig ' by radioi ney/spa- 
per and magazine ads. Comrnish also 
slapped "ar'cease and -desist- order, on- 
GrAzy . Water Cd., M Wells, 
Tex., for misleading knob-twiddlers 
and mag readers, and issued a com 
plaint, against Thomas Management 
Corp., Chicago, for. the familiar ads 
,proniising -the bald men. of the .ina 
tion i ne\y crop- of hair., A les'sei' 
drug cqmpahy— HyrPhen- Coi-p;, Ma 
tbaka, W. Va.,. was scolded for; ex 
aggferati.hg the ciijfative powers of its 
alleged .pain-killer, •Hy-^Phcn,'; 

S^pirited manner in Which the FTC 
Is going after some .of the larger and 
. more powerful companies -aroused 
. speculation about a renewed attack 
on advertising .programs which, tend 
to lead the more gullible of the ra 
dio : public astray. Although, riimes 
of somie of thie products on which 
the Com^nish recently has cracked 
down are* household words in many 
American families, the Government 
afipears tO; be . preparing for a gen- 
eral disillusionizing of the average 
pill-t^en 

No Acid Skin 

Phillips Milk of Magnesia crew 
was accused of inventing a disease 
called 'acid skin,' in order to Con- 
vince radio listeners and ad-readers 
that it can readily be cured by using 
•Milk of Magnesia Cleansing Cream,' 
or ;M. of M; 'texture, cream.' No 
such : thing as a -disease or abnormal 
pathological condition properly dc: 
scribed as 'acid skin,,* Commish de 
clared. and furthermore the Phillips 
skin creiams will not even accomplish 
the results claimed in treating, skin 
blemishes, - blackheads and other or- 
dinary skin afflictions. In . other 
words, while the . famous Milk of 
Magnesia, laxative does neutralize 
excess acid in the stomach, external 
application of the M. of M creams 
does not neutralize acid iskin exiida- 
tions. 

: Sad news for the nation's b*ld- 
pates was stfen in. the' charge that 
the well-publicized Thomas prepara- 
tions will riot stop falling hajr, cure 
dandruff or cause curly mops to 
grow on polished bare spots. Com- 
misii complaint found fault with the 
practice used in more than 25 cities 
throughout the country, where shojf)s' 
known . as. 'The Thomas' lure cusr 
tomers to their doors to sell them 
various hair-growers and give treat- 
ments. Also objected to sale of 
'Home Treatment Kits' for . use by. 
hairless, purchasers: 

Respondent's products 'do not con- 
stitute a cure or remedy . . . 6r an 
effective treatnient for dandruff' and 



hair . grokth. "Two prepairatioris, 
Ttichovlta' ■ arid 'Trichptone,'' which 
are be taken internally to "'stimu- 
late hair growth,' also: virete declared 
ineffective.-'.- 

Curative qualities of 'Crazy Min- 
eral Water,' .'Crazy Water. Crystals' 
and 'Crazy. Fiz' were denied iii a' 
cease and desist order slapped oil 
the cpmpahy and lour of its execu- 
tives, and , 'Hy-Phehl" pain-killers 
also were criticized as a mere pallia- 
ti-ve and jnpt cure. The former 
products wiil hot .ciiire disease's of the 
alimentary tractr kidneys arid other 
internal ;'9rgans,. while., .the latter 
simply deadens pain and -does not 
remove the cauise. ■ 



Columbia Artists, Inc., has a. new 
v.-p. iii Jack Bertell, whiPm execu- 
tive v.rp. Herbert Rosenthal brought 
into tiie . orgariizatiori . couple of 
years -ago, Bertell wjis given the 
title as: Of Jan. 1. 

He's en route nPw tP Hdlly.wbpd on 
CBS ^leht business;' also CQihcidental 
with The , Hartmans, a Columbia Ar- 
tists, inc.,;;client, starting their . RKO» 
film "chore in ; ''Sunriy.'\ Aribther 
Cblumbiai Arsists y.-p; incidentally Is 
i. S. Becker, business mariaigen . 



. Pres Own Announcer 

Mineral Wells, Tex., Dec; 31. 
■Crazy Water airs over the Texas 
Quality Network a r quarter-hoiir 
program Monday through , Friday, 
Hal H. doiliriSj president of the com- 
pany, does ',the commercial on 
the air broadcasts, : 
■ Programs originate here from the 
lobby of the Crazy Water Hotel, 










WITH CBS, NBC 
IS DUE 



plainied, and will not promote normal 



Contract covering- staff draniatic 
and continuity iscripters at NBC and 
CBS will probably be signed by the 
Radio Writers Guild .within the next 

two weelis. Networks and the au- 
thor organization have agreed on all 
important points and the pact is now 
being drafted into : final phraseolbgy 
by their legal, staffs. . 

Terms are being withheld, pending 
final signaturing, but the' agreement 
is understood, to call for minimum 
pay, exitra coin for commercial as- 
signments and aoditipn scripts, and 
clarification of the matter of subsid- 
iary rights: - 



Lyn Murray, comppser-arranger 
and orchestra . conductor ' of . the 
;CampbeU- Playhbiise' series Friday: 
nights over. CBS, is. now; receiving 
.air billing; He had been .refused, the 
mention, but . finally won it - after 
handing in .his resigriatiPn eflectiye 
last- wieek.. ; ■ ' 

Although air-mention is customary 
for batohers and hais been generally 
practiced fon. most. Campbell . . soup 
shows, Murray, has had seveVal tus- 
sles on the matter with different 
sponsors' during the last few seasons, 
He was biUed as arranger-conductor 
bri 'Ellery Queen* when it'^yias a siis 
tairier, but that . was discontinued 
when - Gulf took over the .series.. 

In the case of the 'Campbell Play 
housci' the batbher figurpd the ether, 
plug was actually worth more to him 
than the pay from the show itself, so 
he was. ready to quit, until it was 
forthcbming, : Murray also . has the 
chorus and does the choral arrange 
ments on the Lucky Strike 'Hit Pa 
rade' (without billing) and has the 
'Four Clubmen* vocal sustairier over 
CBS. . 



JOHNNIE OLSON ON 
SIX-STATION WEB 



Green Bay, Wis., Dec. 31 
. Johnnie Olson of WTAQ has been 
signed to write and direct; a new re- 
gional series for Penn TPbaccp be- 
ginning Jan: 4. Show will originate 
at WTMJ, Milwaukee, and be fed tp 
six stations in Illinois, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan. 

Announcer worked for same ac 
cbtint once before through Ruthrauff 
& Ryan agency. He will do a multi- 



other hiair troubles,- Commish com-.' voiced routine on show with a 



rhythm group for background. 



If You Don^t Believe That 




Leads in 

SYRACUSE TRADING Area 

We% Prove It to You I 
; CHOOSE Whai Type of. Survey You Warii 
<5H66SE Whom foil Want lo Mdke It: -. 

• jCaOOSZ lVhen You Want It Made—; 
" ANDi WEUL PAY THE BIIX 

Tes, If you don't believe that WFBli la ''FlnST" In 
." .the Syracuae . Trading aTei, we will gladly make; 
- ^ you a -eul-vey— the .way .you 4peclfy-^at ..our. own' 
expense- . Aboslutely no Obligation. For 
details, write or .wire .WFBL,- Syracuse. K. 
Free & Peters, Inc;, National Repreaenlatiyes, 

ONONDAGA RADIO BROADCASTING CORP. 

• . SYRACl'SE, NEW YORK 

Member Basic Network Columbia Broadcasting System 

Matlonul RepreiietitatlyeB, J^BJSlS ft PETERS, Ine. 



♦ ♦ f ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ frt ♦ » ♦»♦♦♦»>♦♦>♦»♦♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦>♦ ♦ ♦ > M » 



♦♦♦♦ 



From the IVoduction Centres 



IIS NEW YORK CITY ' 

Carol ;irWin; supervisor of, daytime radio for- Young & Rublcam, ill for 
the last week with flu. V ^ . Gedric Foster, news analyst over. Mutual ifrbrn 
WTHT, HartfbriJ, :now also heard dally over WOR; , . ; Alfred Wallenstein 
siibbing for Tpscanini as conductor of the; NBC symphony during Janu- 
ary. . ..Pliilip James staiid-in for;Wallenstein's 'Synriphpnie Strings' series 
over WOR-^Mutuai . . . ; George Bryan, announcer on the Helen Hayes pro- 
gram, ialsb becomes spieler bh 'We, the j*e,ople\ .. iHal Salpern, former 
operatic boy soprano and Metro commentatoir, added to *Aldrlch Family' 
cast, and also recently, played George Washington in 'Uncle Nachtel! for 
Transamerican; . , ^Charles Stark : subbing for. vacationing Art filler as 
annoUncer on 'Famous: Jury Trials'. .; .aliso recently completed recorded 
spot series for Lydiia Pihfcham and Barb'asbl. ... ,Dori Kearney, m'.c. of the 
stageshow at the Strand theatre,: While Plainjs, rij Y., aired over WFAS, 
Wliite Plains, last week, pulled a switch on the quiz 'sessiori byr giving the 
answers and asking the audience for the proper questions. 

Bea Wain renewed ifor another 13 weeks on Lucky Strike's .-Hit Parade* 
. , . .she alsb opens a string of .stage dates at the Brandt houses in New 
York tomPrrow (Thursday ) . ■ .'Conflderitially Yours' .renewed for another 
stretch over a 25Tstation Mutual hookup as of last night (Tuesday), ... 
Sherman K. .Ellis is' the agency . . . . Yvette BarUch, . .sister of announcer 
Andre Bai'ueh and - in the copyright department of C!BS, has': her own ; 
program, 'I. Just Came Here to Sing,' over WiNS Saturday afternoons. . . . 
Ralph Edwards will take his 'Truth or Consequences' show on a viaudo 
tour during January and February. . . . Jill. Esmond and Ralph Fbrbe's, co- 
stats of "The Citadel,' current Wheatena Playhouse drama, will guest on 
■Your Happy Birthday', .f^^^ Twenty Grand cigarets Friday night. (3),;. 
Comptoh agency, increasingly active in .radio the .last few months, liai 
added to its; personnel by abput bne-^ third during the last year. 

Dorothy Michel, secretary td^B. F. McClancy, NBC manager of traffic, 
and F. Willard Butler, a salesman in the NBC spot and local sales depart- 
ment,' have annbunced their . engagement. ... ; Wally Butter worth missed a 
'Vox Pop", broadcast from Fort Slocum, influenza bedding him. 



StaUer-Stauf f er Now 
Partners in Lyons 
Agency; Wolff Also In 



Bill Stuhler and Don StaufTer have 
become partner-stockholders in the 
Arthur iSt Sam Lyons talent agency. 
The _^Lyons brothers have at the 
same^ time expanded their partner- 
ship setup to include i^at Wolff, Hol- 
lywood talent: rejp, who as the op- 
erator of . his own business specialr 
ized in radio bookings, Wolff will 
continue to operate on the Coast 'ais 
a Lybns partner, but he will disolye 
own firm.: 

Stuhler and Stauffer are Young & 
Rtibicam alumni. $tuhler joined 
Lyons three years ago and Stauffer 
followed him in a year later. Though 
the pair will concentrate on radio, 
their activities in the Lyons. New 
York offce will include selling per- 
former and writer talent to legit and 
film producers. Also personal ap- 
pearance bookings. '■ 

Among the film names that Wolff 
has been rrepresenting for jadio are 
Heather Angel, Mary Astor, Marlene 
Dietrich, Miriam Hoplfins, . Carole 
Lombard, Ida Lupino. Joan Bennett, 
Edna . Best, Gail Patrick, Ginger 
Rogers, Martha Scott, Margaret Sul- 
lavan, Helen Wood. Freddie Bar- 
tholomew, Ronald Colman, Herbert 
Marshall, Laurence Olivier and 
Eddie Albert. '\' 



Charles Gilchrest To 

Earle Ferris Staff 

Boston, Dec. 31, ■ 
Charles J. Gilchrest, one-time Chi- 
cago Daily News radio" editor, has 
resigned as. news and special events 
director of WBZ-WBZA to join staff 
of Earle Ferris, private press agent 
in New York City. 

Colton Morris, announcer for past 
two years, succeeds. : 



ilS HOLLYWOOD 

George Burns and Gracie Allen will broadcast from the east during most 
of February. They'll stop, over in Chicago for. at least .on^ broadcast. . . . 
Jack Runybn back from New York lopkaround. .. David ..Brpekmah east: 
for greener fields after first of the year. . .. . Melvyh Douglas donated the 
check he .received for giiesting-"bn Bill Stern's spPrts program to migraiit 
Workers' families for a bit pf holiday cheer. .Huntley Gordon, silent film 
star, now booking the talent foif Gulf Screen Guild shp\y. .» ..Knox Man-, 
ning's soap sponsor gave him a renewal as newscaster on KNX. . . iHedda 
Hopper bidden by governor of Kentucky to preside as hostess at running 
of the Derby. . . .'Truman Bradley calling the sponsor's shots, on Tony Mar- 
tin's new Wpodbury series ; . . .KNX signing in at 6 a. m,. on Sundays, 
hour earlier than other days, tb take three programs from New York. . . . 
You can't keep that KNX gang bff or out of the air. Five of them last week 
pooled their coin to make a down payment on a cabin.plahe. Soon cloud- 
hopping will be Russ Johnston, Bob . Garj-ed,. Wen Niles, Bruce Piersall 
and Bill GbodWinV. i .Graham McNamee sighing nostalgically at the ma« 
jestic Sierra Madre. mountains behind the Pasadefia Rose fiowl, the dear,' 
beloved hills he made famous when he broadcast the first four f Potball 
games from the saiicer. He still has that first script and will repeat some 
of the gayly.-beoecked verbiage he spouted between plays back iii 1927/.;. 
(jeorge Wells, Lux scripter, pitched in and diiriected last weeic's soaper 
\yhen Sandy Barnett was set upon and laid low by an army of flu bugs. 

Martha Tilton off 'Lilting With Tiltpn^' plrograni: on NBC red from Holly- 
wbod. it being announced she was recuperating fromi flu. Charles Dant'f 
prchestra carried on. alone. . . .Bob Hope did not appear on NBC's Christ-, 
mas afternoon salute to Britain from Hollywood, New York and elsewhere, 
it being stated attack of flu cpnflhed comedian to his home. Gracie Fields, 
who had sling 'Aye Maria' on her regular, spot, substituted for Hope with 
a music hall number. 



IN CHICAGO 

Sid Strotz,. NBC program chief, in last week fPr office, meeting and to 
set new cordination set-up for personnel. . . iSharon Lee "Smith added to 
cast bf 'Your Dream Has Come True,' Lillian White, WiUard Waterman, 
Bret Morrison to 'Bachelor's Children,' Mary Patton to 'Right to Happiness* 
. . . .Jean Davis to New York to special audition for new comedy character 
she has created for the ether . . . .Henry Cooke, NBC spprtscaster, is going 
to marry non-prp Mary Fickes some time this spring. .. .Bill Bouchey, 
Dorothy Francis have new roles in 'Arnold Grimm'^ Daughter,' Helen Van 
Tuyl added, to 'Story of Bud Barton'. . , ;Alec Templetpn progressing on 
his hew compPsition called 'Symphony of Life'. 



IN SAN FHAISCISCO 

Mayor Rossi pinned a gold football on Frankie Albert in front of a KYA 
microphone....Hal Burdick repeated a historic night editor stbry on KPO 
this- week; . ... entitled 'The Other Manger,' it was first broadcast five year* 
ago and featured a character named 'Dr. Kate'.... character drew so much 
mail that Burdick lifted her out of his one-time ' yarn and turned her into 
a daily strip show. ; ..with hii M^ifei Cbrhplia Burdick in the title role. . . .: 
If s still going— with a sponsor. . . .Tallulah Bankhead and Dr. Margaret 
Chung participated unexpectedly in. ah East-'West football rally broadcast 
by NBC from Orhar Khayyam's. . . .pair were at a nearby table and were 
persuaded to step over for a. few words with Tommy Harmon, guest of 
honor. .. .Clyde Coombs, for the past three years CBS sales rep in Frisco, 
hops to Fresno today to start the new year as vice-?president and manager 
of KARM. : ^ - 



jfiard Life Pepartment 

■ Mirineapblis, Dec, 31. 
. Dr. : George W. : Yoting, owner of 
WDGY, .and his wife are mptoring 
to their Florida . home in Miami to 
spend their annual winter vacation. 

Young's cruiser, 'The WDGY,* has 
been readied for fishing and pleasure 
eruises to Key West, Palm Beach; 
and other points. 





tTediiesdayt January 1» 1941 



2S 






A p p r ecidtl p n Aw q r d 1 940 

j[XN b E V E R Y p T R YEAR TOQ) 

to 




T H I B I B LE 6 f SHOW B M S I N ES S 




For ii» complete and colorful coverage of all ihat-» n^V* 
the world of entertainment . 

For It* heady champagne language that sparkles and gives 
life to words v .* 

For Hs headline hangry staff -- the beit collection of riews- 
hounds in the world . 

Fo^ those and mdiiy othfer g^ 
v: kudos f6r 1940 and ^^r^^ 



p H I L A d El F a f 




Wednesdayt January 1, 1941 




Washington, Dec.: 31. 

precedenU'setting . request ior « 
ipecial three-jiijleiie Federal court t6 
review a. Federal Communications 
Coniitiisslon ruling haa been made 
by Columbia Bi-dadCasting System 
and State of Alabania in response to 
U. S. Supreme Court holding .that 
license transfer cases cannot be car- 
ried to . the: . District, .oi^ Cplumbifi 
Court pit Appeals. Novel action was 
docketed .Monday. ' (30) .in, the case 
Involving , proposed lease of . W^I, 
Birmihgham. ! 

Inj unction; barring enforcement of 
the May '1939 .FCC order denying 
consent to the assignment , of license 
to Voice of . Alabama, Inc., . was re- 
quested in., a coitiplaint . alleging the 
regulators were -arbitrary -and ca- 
pricious' in numerous particulars 
and decided the issue bri grounds, 
never slated for discussion at the 
hearing. Bill sighed by Attorney 
General, Thomas. S. liawson of Ala- 
bama and puke , M; Patrick, special 
CBS counsel;, said no . fair opportun- 
ity was offered to submit evidence 
dealing with the 'recapture claUse* 
in the lease agreement. 

Whole dispute turns oil the. 
validity of a proVisioin requiring 
Voice of Alaibama (corporation in 
which Columbia, has a 45% . interest) 
to do its utmost, to get the license 
turned back to Alabama Polytechnic 
Institute, University of Alabama, arid 
Alabama College upon termination 
of the 15-year contract. 'The fegu.- 
lators, following, policy laid down in 
the case of KSFO, Sairt Francisco, 
held that any such arrangement is 
contrary to public interest, inasmuch 
as it enables station owners to avoid 
responsibility for several years and 
then bob up again as operators who 
cannot be held accountable for what 
may have happened in the preceding 
period. 

In his request that the FCiC de- 
cision be set . aside, Patrick . emp'ha- 
sized that the recapture clause never 
received consideration until the 
Commish denied the application for. 
the' WAPI lease. Also, the regu- 
lators 'failed and refused to make 
specific and proper findings' on the 
numerous issues listed, for examina- 
tion at the hearing. Result :is a de- 
nial of 'due process,' the coniplaint 
alleged, with the Federal outfit in- 
truding in 'private . business afr 
fairs' of the parties and going out 
of their way to exercise supervision 
over matters that 'do: not touch iipon 
or in .any manner affect the ability 
of Voice of Alabama, Inc., to oper- 
ate Radio Station WAPI in the pub- 
lic interest.' 



HOLLYWOOD-LIKE 



iPractlcai Joke Brings tlve Cow. 

■-■•■•Jnto. NBC'i' 8-H.- 



Holly wood-like . ptactical- .joking 
bobbed \ip- Jast week; when memhiers 
of the choriis. and orchestra onv the 
Tuesday .night Philip Morris program 
went, io -elabora.te extremes, to pre-, 
sent a Christinas gift , to; Ray Blochi 
orchestra conductor on the show, ... 

Batbneer .recenitly purchased .a 
farm, so after obtaining iiermission 
from various New .York C^.ty officials 
and Radio City executives,, the cast 
had a live cow brought to NBC stu- 
dio. 8-H, .where the pr(5grani origi- 
nates, and prieserited it. to Bloch just 
before; broadcast time. Ceremonies 
caused . hysteri'cial mirth ; from parti- 
cipants and the studio .aiidience. 








No More WQXR Siesta 

New Saturday broadcasting sched- 
ule will be started this week (4) by 
WQXR, Niew York, adding three 
hours of transmission for that day. 
It eliminates the previous, lapse 
from noon to 3 p.m., and makes that 
day's schedule the station's longest 
of the wee]t. Outlet will henceforth 
go on the air at 7 a.m. and sign off 
I at midnight Saturdays. ' 

Programs to fill. the. ttireeThour 
span will include ne\vs, recorded 
piano concerts, recorded salon mu- 
sic and a 90-mihute recorded sym- 
phonic stanza, 



I JPAY^ 



■» ♦» . ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ » ♦ ♦ . ♦ » ♦ ♦ ♦ t ♦ ♦ ♦ 

Bostoni'-^The ;; heavy Influx , of 
mijsic frdm Broadcast Music, Inc., 
has necessitiited' the addition of Ar- 
thur Robinson, forrnerly. in; WEEI 
general, service division, to the- sta- 
tion library,' as assistant to Mrs. 
Dorothy Mitchell. ^ 



Hartpw George, of WEEI's prbduc- 
tiOri department, ' iiBs been trans- 
ferred ,tb the general serVice divir 
slon; and Miss Ruth Pevear added to 
fill vacancy. 



. ; George R. Dunhain, sales prpmp- 
hon manager of WEEI, lleives to 
join CBS prbmptioii department' in 
New York City; No . sudcessor has 
been named. • . \ 



SparUnburr, S. iC;-:-;Hal Mopre, 
WSPA organist lor several: years, 
has been nstmed musicial director of 
stations WSPA-ahd WORD. 



■■■, „■ '_ ". Washingtoti, Dec. 31. 
: Profitable cheating tipster sei:vic6 
operating from the Charles Town, 
W. :Va„ racetrack for the beniefit of 
hoodlums was ' uncovered by the 
Federal Communications Coirimis- 
siort after a mpnth of search fc»r un- 
licensed radio quipment. Two men 
have been arrested and the.illegal 
apparatus seized.; ■ 

West Virginia State Police and the 
U. S. District Commissioner at Mar- 
tinsburg made the pihch^ after evi- 
dence .had been . presented by mem- 
bers of the FCC's field: operations 
section personnel— Charles. , EUert, 
supervisor of the Central Atlantic 
monitoring area; Assistant Monitor- 
ing Officer Earl M. Johnson and 
Radio Operator .Kenneth B. Menear. 

Two portable transmitters were 
used in the ingenious.^ tipster service, 
with Pne .of the men hi<l'ng one 
transmitter under his coat while 
watching the races from the gi'and- 
stand and an accomplice receiving 
the surreptitious ' broadcasts firom a 
rented tourist cabin near the track. 
Latter flashed the expected result to 
conspirators listening in . at outside 
receiving stations— using the second 
set fpr this p.urpo.$e. 

Aihong the strange goings-on 
which attracted Commish attention 
were repeated . Whistlinjgs . of the 
same tune; : sudden cutti^'grih of a 
vpice repeating a number and 
strange break-ins of other kinds. 
Light signals flashing between the 
grandstand tip-off man and his ac- 
complice in the cabin also were ob- 
sessed and a trunk with a secret 
compartment was used to house one 
of the transmitteirs/' 



HELEN CAEROLL QUITS HAGS 

. Merry Macs', singing quartet, is 
temporarily breaicing; up in Holly- 
wood. • • 

" Helen Carroll, the girl, east to join 
hubby.. 




eihclnnatl-^Bill Karn of Dallas, 
tex„ formerly with KPDN,. KOMA. 
and ; WFAA, joined the announcing 
staff: of WLW; Cincinnati. . ! 
: Cbrdph- . Gray, . annoiirtcer ;on 
-WCjpb,: :Cincy, -tor the past 16 
rnonths; transfers; Dec. 23 to WCKY 
in that^city.. ■ ; :■■'„' . 



Salt -Lake City— After; some three 
;years at KSL, Roy prUshall. left for 
matrimony and Chicago. / 



. New; tork.-^Wallihg Minster, form 
erly ;a partner in Minster & Co., . ai. 
engineering flrrn, has joined the 
Cpmpton. agency; in an executive 
capacity.. ■ ■• 



; Yorktbn, Sask. -7- C JGX, Yorkton. 
which has broadcast studio prbgrariis 
from Winnipeg in the past, now has 
its own studio. Bob Elleker is local 
manager with Art Mills as chief en- 
gineer and. Bill Horbach as tech- 
nician. Chester Beachall is studio 
ehgineeri Brube Ogilvy is program 
director, Johnnie Haydeh and Bob 
Faulds dp the announcing and Mrs. 
Irene Park is in charge of commer- 
cial traffic. Latter gr blip all arrived 
from. Winnipeg recently, 



Wbiie Plains; N. Y.^Don Kearney, 
former spotter for Bill Stern, NBC 
sports announcer, and a free-lance 
announcer and scripter, has joined 
the staff of WTAS, White Plains, to 
handle publicity and do announcing. 



New' York— Ilya'Laskpff has joined 
the publicity department of CBS to 
handle musical subjects. He succeeds 
Ben Hyams, who moved into the mu- 
sic continuty spot va.cated by Bill 
Fineshriber; Latter is now music 
department head. 



Hartford.— Elliot Miller; has been 
added to announcing staff of WDRC. 
Formierly associated with WQRL, 
Boston, and WLAW, . Lawrence, 
Mass., he will do anhouncihg on sta- 
tion's FM station, WiXPW. Replaces 
Bob Provan, who will still program 
direct for the FMer. Provan returns 
to mikeman duties at WDRC, which 
he forsook to gab over WIXPW. 




^ . Detroit, Deo. 31. 

; Maybe the patehi medicine cqmpanies^ A^ the air around 

Christmas time, feelliig . it isn't good psychology to talk about people's 
ailmente at a seasph for celebration, are oni the, right tra Le,tteip 
boxes, in; the ne.w.spapers. here have be^n getting such expressions; ai 
this typical one:; " 

iTo the Editor: Can't iiomething be. done to. spare us the radio. Woes 
of Wlnnl<i during the holiday season^ . No one w.ants to listen to radio 
dlsasterg at this time of the year. Cari't the sponsors of soap and shorts- ■ 
ening give Us some gbpd music instead?' ~ . 




Actor Writleii Oiit of One Serial Except two Dayu 
A Week to Obviatie Cbnflictionis 



IjeightoiirNelson Hands ; 
Staff Uswal lO^ Bon 

. ; : Sclieriectii(iy,:N. Y.v Dee. 3il. . 

Leighton 8t Nelson agency bohiised 
all regular employees 10%. 

Agency has followed this practice 
since ;: Winslbw .P; - Leighton ind 
Gfeprge R. Nerspn quit WGY arid 
brganized lt in 193i5v : 



KSL Staff Ge<e Bphus ■ 

Salt Lake City, Dec, 31, 
. All/ meiiibers of KSL staff have 
received end of the year bonuses; 
AnnbUht is: unrevealed except that it 
is on a sliding scale and is based on 
salary r^eived. . 

Previously; it has beeii: a flat: t>vo 
weeks': extra pay. 



tlrtdlsclosed: Amount 

Sah Ahtbhio, Dec . 31^ 
, Employees of station WOAI were 
giveii a Christmas bonus this piast 
week. ■ , Amounts received riot dis- 
closed. 

Employees of station KTSA were 
given as their Christmas bonus twp 
weeks' salary. 



WJBK Cnie Up $3,000 

Detroit, Dec. 31. 

Year end bonuses; totaling $3,000 
were paid tp 62 employees of Station 
WJBK here by James F. Hopkins, 
Inc. ♦ 

The amounts were prb-rated among 
the employees according to their 
number of years of service with the 
istatioh. ■ . 



KFitO Adds 1% Per Year . 

Lbngvie.w, Tex., Dec. 31, 
AH employees of KFRO received 
their annual cash bpnUs for Christ- 
mas. Bonus is set on > basis for 
each employee who has been with 
the station for one year and an ad- 
ditional 1% per year for all em- 
ployees, who have been with the sta- 
tion for more than one year. 
James R Curtis is prcz. . 



Batavla, Ni Y.— Willfam Winn from 
WRAK, . Williamspbrt, Pa., named 
chief spieler of the new WBTA pre- 
eniirig after Jan.' 1. 



Niagara- • : Falls, N. Y. — Elliot! 
Scharf has left WEBR, Buffaip, tp 
join WHLD anonuncihg staff. 



Buffalo.-^Bill Mayhew rejoining 
WBEN froni: WIS, Columbia, ;S. C., 
has been, added to WREN's sports 
staff. : ; ' • . .. 



Akron:— Ray . Spehcer is' leaving 
WADC Akron, after three years to: 
join the announcing, staff of W(jAE, 
Pittsburgh. WADC has added thiree 
ybuhg announcers to its staff, two 
of ' them" Akrbn. university students. 
They are; .Wallt ; Hennric:ks, . Ned 
Niedemier and Bill iBecrs. 



■ Spokane.-^Helen Sullivafi ' doub- 
ling into . con tiniiity at KHG-KGA. 
Ruth Harris has moyed frbm recep- 
tion; desk, to the music. depiartment, 
ill charge of checking' copyright re- 
strictions. , 

Clevelarid.—^Bili George; forrheriy 
of radio \ division of Cleveland 
Police Departrhent joins; stait of 
WGAR as engineer,; 



San Aiitpiiid.r-WOA has, Luqille 
Garza in: the Continuity pepartment. 



St, Louls^Jack Henderson . has 
returned to KWK's sales force. : Was 
connected with the station: from "1933 
to 1939 .when he left for KSfP, St.- 
Paul. ■ , 



K ARK Bonuses. Also 

Little Rock, Dec. Zl. 
Employes of KARK here will be. 
given New York bonuses equal to 
10% of one year's salary. 

Same rule applied to each of the 
station's 30 employes 'regardless of 
the length of employment. 



■ bonald Cook, co-star with Florence 
Lake in" 'Charlie and- Jessie' for 
CattipbeU's: Sftiip, wiU ' hencefprth be ; 
written out of all .but the;;Tuesday 
and Thursday prbgranis. of the imrhe- 
diaiely-following 'Martha Webster' 
serjc.4 for the same sponsor, so the 
two-shows will not.cohiBict. He will 
also: discpnliriue : as director of 
.^Marthja/:::- ^-v-.. ;- ■. '■ 

'Charlie*;, airs; Mondays, Wednesi' 
days, and Fridays arid, when Cook 
was directing and appearing; in 'Mar- 
tha^ in 'the erisuing spot; it involved : 
tPb many, headaches for everyone in-; 
yplyed. ;, Shows are heard- over CBS. 





IN PROGRAM 
DIREaORS 



Program directors of Mutual sta- 
tions origiriatirig shows for the net- 
work will, henceforth meet for semi- 
annual conferences on cpminon prob- 
lems. First such session will be held 
next Tuesdair-Wednesday (7-8^, at 
the Ambassador hotel, N. Y. Subse- 
quent ones will be at Chicago and 
other cities where Mutual progifam- 
priginating statipns are located. 

Adolph Opfinger, of WOR, New 
York, will, preside at the initial con- 
fab, with the program heads of the 
following stations ' aniong those 
slated to attend: ;WGN, Chicago; 
WKRC. Cincinnati; WnK, Cleveland; 
KHJ, Hollywood; WAAB, Boston, and 
WOL, Washington. 



KSTP SURVEY SUGGESTS 
TOSCANINI ALSO RAN 



Al ZInk, WGY announcer and .spe- 
cial, events man, had the lead in 
Schenectady Ciylc Players' presenta- 
tion of -George M. Cohan's 'The 
tavern.' Mrs. 'Vic' Campbell, wife 
of WGY's assistant prpgrarn man- 
ager, ^nd Mrs. Hal Kent; wife of a 
WGY miker, were also in the cast. 



Minneapolis, Dec. 31. 

Northwest listeners apparently go 
in for the. lowbrow stuff and prefer 
'hillbilly' entertainment to Toscari- 
ini and his symphony orchestra 
music. A Ross Federal Siirvey, jusi 
completed for KSTP showed 46.5% 
lis-eners tuned in on KSTP's 'Sun- 
set Valley Barn Dance,' listening to 
yodcling, at the 9:45 p.m. Saturday 
broadcast when Toscanini also is on 
the air,- he says. ; . 

The balance of the 'audience' was 
divided among four' other stations- 
as 18.2, 19.3, 3.7 and 8%, 



ACETATE 
Recordings 

Processed and Pressed . 
■ In Canada* ■■•';'. 
Vertical, 'or Lateral . 
Also line 
Recording of 
the highest 
Quality 
Many 

..Satisfied ' : ■ 
U.S. . Clients ^'^V/V.^ 
Compo Company Limited, 
Lachine , Montreal; Canada . 
Transcription headquarters 
For Canada. 



Weilneptlay, january 1, 1941 



RADIO 



27 




Radioi Editor Leo MUier Looks Over the Connecticut 
Situation— WTIC Has Runaway 



Hartford, Dec. 31. 
.. Leo Milier, radio editor dr. this 
■ Bridgeport: He'rald-, ~ has Just . :pi4b7 
.lished a provocative . 1940 sunnnary 
or'radio in Connecticut.' Of its kind 
Miller's summary ' rare, in ; the 
United States.' He is personally in- 
terested enough , and professionally 
permitted to focus a isha'rp, ctitical 
eye ph his. radio, surroundings. . His 
remarks are very much apropos ^.re- 
cent discussions in Vaiuett and the 
Public Opinion Quarterly pf Prince- 
ton .University on the .theme of .'radio, 
critics^ .v.: ' / 

Miller -begins his own personal 
.'showmanship survey* of Gpnhecticut 
• brcadcasting by;.sayiniB: ; v:; , v - 

'.'With exceptions which we will 
sopii list-Hhere just-aihit-no-lpcal-. 
ialertt oh Connecticut's; i-adip pay- 
rPlls.' ■ , • ■, ■ ' V ' ■ 

'That word 'payrolls' is, of course, 



FAIRMONT 

A Fori: industry Matket 



*^Td4ay is yesterday's 
pupi7' 'r^Fraiiklin. 

YESTERDAY 



Was a Great Teachet 
at 




H taught us the vialuiB of 
.listener friendship. It re^: 
warded our efforts with, a 
treniendous increase in 
audience (proved by 
mail) and a substantial 
: gaih in national atid Ipcql \ 
business. 

TODAY 
(1941) 

WiU Be An Energetic 
dnd Determined PupU 
of 




I the why, wherefore^ what, .which 

.. ; and .who :of trie trouble. 
■■ 'When the -stations cbuld - get : 
them to work -• f or ; ' nb.thi.ng-^also 
called art's sake-r^it was' easy to • 
.stud the •sch6dUles with singers arid 
..musicians of "tiie .n 

'Then the Amefibari Federation 
of Muisiciaris ; started .pitching to . 
the .btoadcasters, . Freie musib- ws^s 
banned... Studio groups and rplayers ! 
/had ;to be hired atcofding to it^i-:' 
tions' capacity to. pay. Wht^i the 
.Federatipn's militiint- new pres- . 
ident, James C. t'etrillo, took over 

■ iii 1940,. the ruite were made tight, V 
and today, no non-urilon rn.usiciari' 
tnaiy .accompany oh any program. 

'Out-: went local inslrumerital and 
local . taj6nt. - . ■ ; ■: ■ 

--JJSUiL ■pj^ce^tion.'!, ' as we , said. 
Thesif^ run; i, Tlie'NoM^ , 

exceptioft is big enough io make us 
glad Connecticut can have such a 
broadcaster. That would, of course, . 
be WTIG. Although not in the . 
. class . of ... the . . Trave'lerstation, . 
W£)HC. doesn't have' to. be ashairied ' 
of its No, .2 job. . The third ex- 
ception, is WICC, mcist of Whose: 
• heart belohgs to New ;. Haven 
when, it comes to giving the. locals 

crack at -the micrpphone. 
, ' JMaybe the most telling, observa- v 
tion on the state's radio ; situation 
is; that ' among all the nine broad- 
rasters there is .piily one studio 

■ singer . who makes ' his . living . at 
; it-T-Larrr Huards of WTIG/; 

;. the ■ remark about singer liarry- 
Suards, ■.rtiof fe' or Jess ■ disposes of 
the popular, singers' and 'classical 
singers' classifications; . Musical nov- 
elty groups in the state are pri- 
marily, a number of migiraitory hill- 
billy ensembles like Hank - Lawson's 
Knights of the .Road at WTIC, .Hart- . 
fprd. State's (and WTIC's), 'rnajor 
talent importation . of yeiar was en- 
gagement of Gene and Glenn,' states 
Miller, adding 'there hasn't been a 
comparable .click in years.' Moshe 
Paranoy grpup at WTIG sends or- 
chestral music Vto the NBC fed and 
Miller also': speaks weU of WDRG's 
Joe Blume . string aggregation, . 

Am.bng otlier breakdowns radio 
editor Miller includes these cpm- 
jjients:' 

.-' ;." bramalic;!', 

. 'Here WTIC irule.s again, but there 
is a . respectable runner-up, WICC, 
thanks in large to Judsoh La Hayeks 
good work in New HaVen; . At 
WTIC the Cecil B. DeMille, of New 
England, Guy Hedlund, . continued tp 
train stars, the 1940 headliner . of 
course being Gertrude Warner. From 
WICC's Yale annex have , conie the 
now famous 'Fiirst Offender,' 'Festival 
of Saints' and 'Down the Years,'^ahd 
Alma Dettlnger's 'Secret Heart' was 
.until recently the top product of the 
Biridgeport studio. More; WTHT's 
Community Workshop, ■ W N B C ' s 
Playhoijse, WBRY's theatre. 

,'Actors: Hedlund, Eddie Begley and 
Mai;a Sterling at WTIC. Arthur 
Hoyt, Jaimes Polj, Sherman : Reilly, 
Lois .McLeari, Gerard Lewis, Ruth 
Coilen at WICC. Charles, Richards 
and Eileen Stevens at WDRG. Betty 
Crotty , at WNBCi Walter Hbwaird 
land Eleanor Culhane at WBR'if.. 
Stephen Hagarty and. Dorothy Low- 
ell at 'WNLC. . 

'Authors: Kurt Unkelbach' and 
Ralph Klein of WTIC; Klein doubling 
to . WNBC,. James Weldon of WICC, 
Ray Barrett and Phil Cahill . of 
WDRC, Carey Cr.onin of WELL De 
Witt Copp of WBRY. . 

, Educational . Projrrdms 

'AH stations try to make a good 
showing hei-e. WDRG, with -Sterling 
V. Couch in charge, make."! about the 
best in its tie with CBS'; 'American 
School of. the Air /and its . Radio. 
Voice of Religion. WCIC has the 
U: of Connecticut Farm Forum and 
'the Medical Society talks, WICC the 
Ready Made Family and American 
Le^iPri Auxilitary, Wtiit the Amer- 
ican Discussion League; ' . WNBG. 
Williiam A; Sheehah's program. 
•WELI NeW: Haven at Work, WBRY 
Let's Talk It Over. WATR topic."j 
of Today, WNLC Highway Safety 
Quiz and Norwich State Hospital, 
hour.' ''. 



Oxford's Six Quickies 

. / '. Hollywood, IJec. 3L 
New "quickie . coihpany, Oxford 
Pictures, headed by pr. A. Benson, 
gpes into production at. Internatibrial 
Studios Jan. 15. ..oil the first of six 
films with British backgrounds. ' 

Hairy . Levin- is directing the pic- 
tures, aimed at state rights. . 






Tidewater s Radio 





WEMP'S SLY DIG. 



Adverti&e til Sentinel (WISN) When 
Journal (WTMJ) Bars Copy 



' Philadelphia, Dec 31. 

The Pederar Communications .Com- 
mission is, skedded to hold a hearing 
in Washington on Jan. 29 ; to; Jear off 
the shroud - of secrecy . which sur- 
rounds the;, operations pf ■ WCAM, 
500-watter owned by the.jhUnicipal- 
ity of Camd6n. Th6 outlet has been 
run at; a loss for the past few years 
and last year was placed on the 
block by Camden's Mayor George 
Brunner, but thus far there have 
been no takers.:/ the FCC 'will also 
delve into the controversies between 
WCAM-; and' WTNJ,, treritoh; N. J., 
and WCAP, Asbury Park, with whom 
the Camden staitipn shares time on, 
the air. . ' .1 ', \ 

Official notification of the FCC 
calls the; cPmihg hearing 'ah investi- 
gation of operating pta'ctices/. 



IF THE SUN HIDES, ^ 
ITS ON THE HOUSE 



St. Petersburg, Fla., Dec. 31. 
WTSP is following a stan.ding offer 
of the loca^l Evening Independent not 
to bill an advertiser on spot an- 
nouncements for any day that . the 
sun fails to shine In. this town. 
WTSP will use the. -Independent's 
condition, now in effect for 20 years, 
for the writeoff. 

• If the sun comes but .after the 
Independent goes to press the an- 
nouncements scheduled on the sta- 
tion for that; day will be cuffped. 
Offer goes 'even though the sun does 
come Put in territory covered by 
WSTP outside of St. Petersburg. 



Milwaukee, Dec. 31. : 
' After The MilWa^kee Journal, op- 
erators pf WTM j, • the NBC red ! out- 
let, had' refused to sell display adver- 
[ tislhg space to WEMP,; independent, 
i to plug its retently. cbnsummated af- 
filiation with the NBC Blue network, 
effective tomorrow, WEMP went to 
the Milwaukee Sentinel, opeirator. of 
WISN, the local CBS Putlet, . and 
there. bought all the space it wanted, 
i the Hearst paper apparently having 
• no cbmpuhctiohs about publicizing 
: its smaller . competitior .as long as it 
might work to tlie possible detri- 
ment of, its larger- one.. ' 

Copy in the ad was a sly dig at 
the Journal , and WTMJ, : reading: 
'WEMP brings the NBC Blue net- 
work programs to Milwaukee Jan, 1,' 
with the 'NBC in big type on;a line 
by itself,., and 'Blue network' on ; the 
following line, ;carrying the impli- 
cation to the casual reader that. 
NBC, as such, was new to the town, 
althpugh WtMj; has aired the Red 
web shows for years. The Blue net- 
work program, ' however, is being 
brought here . by WEMP, beginijinjg 
tpmprrow, for the flirst time, and; of 
course the station .h^^s plugged. . it 
plenty over the air through its own 
mediunri. ' ; • , 

' The Journal had refused to ; 'sell 
space : to WEMP on the ground that 
it was a competitor, and the only 
way the. station can break into its 
advertising columns is for its clients 
to buy and pay for the space. 



Trip to' Hollywood 

Is Advertisers' Bait 

Wichita, Kas., Dec. 31. ■ 
Radio station KFH has new pro- 
gram 'Winsoni. Program' Sunday 
night sponsored by Fleming's FlavPr- 
Rich Coffee. .Program includes game 
for which two prizes 6t all-expense 
toiirs to Hollywood will be awarded 
each week for 13 weeks. 

Also 200 additional prizes will be 
awarded.' 



. Spot brpadcasting plans . pf the 
Tidewater Oil Gp. fpr 1941 are uncer- 
tain. In the meantime the cpmpany's 
hew admihistratioa has .instructed 
the agency on the account, Lennen Si 
Mitchell, to issue cancellationis on all ; 
Tide'water radio business.' Move will 
end , the firm's sponsorship of Stan 
Lomax oh WOR, Newark, the middl^ 
of January and the series it has on 
the Yankee, Network at a later date. 

Other areas hit by the. cenceila- 
fions are . Syracuse, ■Rochester and. 
ScheniBctady, . WOR is now trying to 
sell Ruppert beer thrpugh the Ruth- 
raufl & Ryan agency oh, the idea ' of 
using Lbmax six times a week, ; 
-Beer account currently has the 
sportscaster tied, up for Saturday 
nights only. • . 



KWK STAFF 8-T0-6; 
AFRA IS EMPOWERED 



. St. :i^ouis, Dec^ 31. 
Some 14 . gabber's, singers and. ac- 
tors employed at KWK voted 8 . tb • 
last . week to have, AFRA as their, 
representative in collective bargain-; 
ing. A 15th member of the station's 
staff did riot vote, the election was 
asked by the. statipn and .was con- 
ducted under the supervision of Field 
Exariiiner King Deer of the Ideal 
NLRB, The St. Louis Chapter has 
been negotiating for a new contract 
with the station for several months 
and recehtly the station asked ifor the 
election. : 

Nellie Booth, executive secretary 
of the local AFRA chapter has rcr 
hewed a contract with KMOX and 
in the past, year has. obtained hew 
wage contracts with KSD and KXOK. 
Janies Porter, Detroit, midwesterh 
national representative of AFRA will 
come, here about Jan. I to powwow 
with KWK oh the new wage sdale. . 



Guy nedlnhd, producer-director of 
WTIC, Hartford, Playhouse, will 
stage his 7,000th air drama ; early in 
Janijary. New England vet, who 
also acts In his plays, is In his 10th 
year at WTIC. 



RENEWS BOB BECKER . 

ChiCa,go. pec. 31. 
Bob Becker, farni arid dbg e?cpert, 
fpr the Ch,ieago .Tribune; ,ha.s, been ( 
renewed with his 'Chat.s About Dog.s' ' 
program by the John Morrell dog- 
Itlobd company. 

New series runs for an .ad,ditionar: 
13 weeks - over WGN on Sundays ^ 
from : l:45.i2 p.m. Set through the '■ 
Henri, Hur.st & MqDrinald agency. I 




Hucii B. Tennir 



• The KLZ Broadcasting 
Company announces the ap- 
pointment of Hugh B. Terry 
as Station Manager, effective 
January 1, succeeding F. W. 
Meyer, resigned. Mr,.Terry*s 
experience and training, as Cohimercial 
Manager of KLZ, Manager of kVOR, and 
as a member of the staff of WKY, assures 
sponsors and listeners alike an aggressive, 
efficient and productive management , 



— to F. W. Meyer, radia pioneer and manager of 
KLZ for many years, thfe KLZ Broadcasting Company 
extends best wishes for success ' in the operation of 
• his own station, KMYIL, . 

nkiHaA BROADCASTING CO. 

DenVi^r^ Colo. 




F. W.Mbyeh 



28 



RADIO 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 








Says That BMI Fails to Publish 



CHARLOTTE NEWS 
DROPS RADIO BIAS 







Failure of Brgadca>it .Music> Inc., ' 
to publish a single one of the win- , 
ning songs, -in the amateujr ' song-., 
wi-iting contest program; ;TaiT>e; anf1^\ 
Fortune/ .which- is, sponsored by. the i 
Lewis-Howe Co. .(.Tunis). the 
NBC-blue, may .Tes'ult in . a. suit fpir , 
'ipeciflc perfof man ce of. .contract, it .! 
was ; disclosed • by ' Stack-Gobi?^,; ■; 
agency on. the iccount, last week. .1 

This agency "declaf ed thit . it has .i 
made frequent demands iipon BMl- tbr 
.go through , with its comihitments to j 
this. Tomniy . Dorsey series.' biit that . 
aU that it :has .received .have- been as- \ 
su ranees that fbyr..mmibers'haye. al- 1 
• re.s'ldy. -beisni -published, .arid -th.at the.: 
ofhers woiild be taken. .care of soon-. ' 



SUek-66.bl<? istated that it:h5>.s yet. to 
see even one or the) four .hUmbers 
BMI .'. claims - to have publ ishey -. a.iid ' 
the' agency attributes much, of the 
program's low rating to . BMI-s- .not 
fulfiliihg its part r o". the -jprdmise' to 
•Fame 'and Fortune' contests,.', 

■ The prpgrarii ha.s' been on; the; net- 
work. lor Id weeks; The ag6hcy ad- 
mits that il.s deal with BMI did hot. 
stipulate, how soon . the .vvinning. 
nurribers would . have to be published-, 
but.-argues that BMl's lactics on . the 
matter; have been anything but con- 
ducive to winning the- goodwill of 
listeners, 

. • :What the . agfen.cy particularly ;feia'rs 
"is, the -. pdssTbTiily ' b-f ■winning " con- 
testants .themsielves- sfartihg - atStioris 
against Lewis-Howe for specific per- 
formance of contract. The applicar 
tion blanks for the contest; which 
: ihcliide all copyright . and. ' publica- 
■tion- details, were, di'awn lip, accord- 
ing to the tigehcy, , by. BMI counsel 
and the agreenienf makes, BMI di- 
rectly respohsible for, royalty returns 
on all winnirtg numbers. ' ■ . 

.Statk-Gohle ; also declared last 
week .thiat it intends to have the 
program's routine remain as is' and 
keep pressing its. demands upon, BMI 
for publication of '.every one of thje 
winning songs so long. as . BMI con- 
tinues in business an'd the series re- 
mainis on; the air. , ^Indications are 
that; with NBG^ also deeply , involved 
In the rhatter, BMI will yield to this 
pressurie and tijrn, out the publica- 
tion, of numbers deriving; from the 
Lewis-Howe: contest. 



: Charlotte. N/ C:, Dec. 31/ • 
Bitter feud which existed for a 
Ujng, time . between ■ the Charlotte 
Ne\\ji, largest afternoon ; nfi\VsRap;er 
in'the Carol'h«,:and lo<]([l radio' sta- 
tions has ended. Paper last Aveek; 
.showed how congenial it proposed to. 
be hereafter with -radio by .riihning 
the daily schedules of the -stations 
and in separate full-page ads an- 
nouncing the hew radio ^feature and 
describing: jt as a valuable: service. 
Responsible for smbpthing the way 
for peace between the two local 
media is A. E. Josceylin, who seyei al 
months ago was assigned, as general 
manager <jt WBT by Colunihia; 

Before Josceylin sold W. C> Dbwd. 
the News' publisher, on the idea. of 
forgetting the past, the newspaper 
had a rule barring WBT's rnentigh 
from thie paper-is column and the in- 
clusion of the station's icall letters 
fro^n any printed photo. ; : 



A PLACE IN THE HILLS 



Kenny Baker, Wilfred Pelletier, Har- 
old Bresson Biiy Plots 




^OOA'--FULL TIME 
AND 50,000 WATTS 

IN 1941-MORE 

sTHAN EVER BEFORE- 

WBAI, 

ut'Bcdtimcle. 



' ' : Brildgeport; Dec. 31. 

More; iradlo. personages joining ex- 
odus to Connecticut : • • 

•Kenny Bakers located in a house 
on Ponuis Ridg'e> and Wilfred Pelle- 
tier. Metropolitan: Opera maestro 
who handles /'Auditions, of the Air,' 
has bought a big house and 77 acres, 
•in :Oxf brd, not far trphi' hdnie of 
Grace -Moore. ■ 

Harold Bresson, chief engineer of 
Voung 8r Rubicani, bought a SO-aorc 
patch in NeWto\yn. ... . 



MRS. CAMPBELL BREAKS 
DOWN FROM OVERWORK 



Mrs. Jeanne Campbell, in charge I 

of the hew copyright division; of. 
the Mutual netvyork was taken to 
Boulevard hospital, N, Y., last week 
to recovier from a physical break- 
dbwn. . She collasped from oVer- 
work. 

Her job is checking music because 
of; the ASCAP-BMI situation. Pendv 
ing her return to work, Dr, Jacob. 
Coppersmith, director :0f the music 
library and copyright division of 
WOR, New York, will also, handle 
her . duties. Paul Jonas, formerly 
with Larry Siaier, Inc., music pub- 
lishei", has been brought in to assist. 



Nan Raye-M aiide Davis ; 
Oif Kate Smith Show 

Nan Raye arid Maude Davis have 
bowed off the Kate Smith program 
for "the present. Ted Collins, produr 
.cer-m;c; of the program, let them 
out of their contract and has agreed 
to put them back ph the show when- 
ever- they feel ready to resume radio 
work. They left the . Eddie Cantor 
series a couple Pt months ago to go 
on the Kate Smith stanza. 

Pair have a previously booked date 
Sunday (5) on 'Show of the . 'Week' 
over WOR-Muiual and do a.; stage 
Stint at the Paramount, N. Y., begin- 
ning Jan. 15. Between times they'll 
take a rest at LakeWood, N. J.; 



More Music Indictments 



; Continued from l>age 20; 



; Fred Bate, Injured when NBC's 
London offices Were bombied several 
weeks ago, Is back at the mike, 



Quotes Advertising Agencies 

N.A.B. Publicity Release Speaks of *10 Years With- 
out Repeating a Single Number* 



Direct quotes, implying close' col- 
laboration with BMI by the adver- 
tising agencies, were -issued- Monday 
(30) by the New York office of the 
National Association of iBroadcasters. 
The statement began, by stating 
'withdrawal by. ASCAP of the music 
it controls; . .program directors stilll 
have more than 600,000 musical a;r^ 
rangements from which thieir selec- 
tions must he. made. . . advertising 
agencies said today their program di- . 
rectors were . 'going ahead as iisual' 
In the preparation of - forthcoming 
programs. •. .' 

Ed Fitzgerald pf Erwlri Wasey was 
quoted: ■. ' ;. . ...\.'. ;, ' - 

'As long as the stations do hot. 
have ASCAP licenses, we are pre-: 
pared to go along without the use of 
this music. . Already we have a 
month's supply of programs prepared 
Which do not carry any ASCAP 
music, and hope for a favorable pub- 
lic reaction.* 




YOUR BEST NATIONAL SPOT BUY 
A NEW APPROACH TO THE NEW YORK MARKET 



;'i ,.;vii.;l 



Again to quote: , - 

. 'At the J. Walter Thompson 
agency, the radio ' department — 
which handles the Chase & San-- 

, born Hour with Charlie McCai-thy, 
the Kraft Music Hall with Bing 
Crosby, , and the Wrigley Melody 

. Ranch — said they were similarly 

' .'all set' . - - ■].:. . 
One agency representative ob- 
served that with an available cat- 
alogue of. 600,000 musical arrange- 
ments (both copyright arid public; 

■ domain),, jt .would be possible to 
play 200 non-AiSCAP selections a 

; day , for 10 years , without ever re- 
peating a single number, not' to 
mention the hundreds of npw hit- 

. tunes . which' are . being ; produced ' 
now by the numerous non-ASCAP 
publishers. . 

"N. W.'Ayer said it was following 
its usual practice pf laying out pro- 
grams as riiuch- as. six or eight 
weeks in advance, and called atten- 
tion to the non-ASCAP 'Telephone 
Hour.' lyhich . .will be heard next 
Monday night with James IVTel Ion, 
Frartcia , 'White and. Donald Voor- 
hces' 57-piece orchestra. 
;.; From Lerinen and: Mitchell, Inc. , 
.'We're sieii -to go along ..without 
ASCAP music as long a? neces-i 
anry.' Here it was pointed out that 

; the withdrawal of ASCAP tunes 
had not prevented the agency from 
recently -signing : a new musical 
prpgram with Tony Martin for a 
weekly Wednesday .night perform- 

•ance, sponsored by Woodbury. 

Similar attitudes also were ex- 
pressed at several other national 
agencies/ -; ^ . , -. ^ , ' --f-^-v ; 



strategy, neither ASCAP nor the 
rad io industry groups are considered 
sufficiently ponfiderit to want to take 
the gamble. Statements that the 
Federal probe is 'welcomed' by each 
side are greatly disbounted in Gov- 
errimerit. quarters, .' view of past 
experience that whenever any indi- 
vidual is nariied . in. a trust-busting 
drive he .always Wants to bring about 
ah Identical attaclc;on his. rivals and 
foesi- ... '■ '. ..■ ■ ■ 

The Departmerit announcement 
brought mixed reactions. In broad- 
casting circles, there were many who 
doubted that Arnold is determined to 
go after . the networks and ; BMI. 
Other persons who have talked over 
the situation with the Justice officials 
feel sure, however, that the prpse- 
cut'or is. sincere in accusing the ^a- 
dio.ielement of using tactics just as 
illegal ! or. as undesirable socially as 
ASCAP's and .believe- there is no. 
doiiht jie interids to be eq'xially ag-' 
gressive agairist both sides, Mwe 
general feeling, however, is that Ar- 
nold does not want to assume re- 
sponsibility— especially in view of 
the deep political ramifications— for 
deciding Which side- is in the wi:png. 

Vnlmpressed 

The Justice Department obviously 
is not impressed, by rightePus indig- 
ilations expressed from radio quar- 
ters. Even though tlie trustbusters 
have damned AiSCAP and appear to 
be supporting attempts - to uphold 
state •anti-monpp.oly laws . Csiich; as 
those, in Washington, ; Florida and 
Nebraska), they will not admit that 
creation of BMI and cold-shouldering 
of ASCAP. were justified in self- 
defense. . Official slant is that the 
published statements and undisguised 
actions of the radio;factiori are anipie 
to back up .charges that success for 
BMI would mean nothing more than 
substitution of orie;monopoly for an- 
other, ■ .:. •■ ■. 

. Details of the blowrup of recent 
ASCAP coiisent decree negotiations 
remain obscure but rumors of law- 
yer feuds have beeii substantiated. 
From high quartiers comment has 
been heard, that thie conversations 
were ended Because of 'a fight over 
which attorneys should, collect a $50,- 
000 fee.' Reports that Arnold re- 
fused to talk further because of in- 
formation that the proposed decree 
would be repudiated by the majority 
of ASCAP directors Weii e sternly de- 
nied, with' observation that the par- 
leys were started only with the con- 
sent, of enough to assure ratification 
of any settlenrieht worked put. . 

The internal intrigue and factional 
politics within Tin Pan Alley had a 
collateral effect In causing Attorney 
General Robert Jackson to instruct 
Arnold to ilaunch criminal proceed- 
ings, hpwever. Department sources 
ren)arked that a few loud screamers 
kicked up such a ruinpus that there 
was no point in wasting further time. 
Dissension between the bloc buUt 
around film-cOmpany-Pwned publish- 
ing houses and the . anti-HPlly wood 
faction complicated the negotiations, 
causing somfe of the individuals who 
were in favor of -settlement at the 
outset to become uneasy and lose en- 
thusiasm. 

The Consent Decree 

Part of the ASCAP inside group 
was ready to go whole hog in wind- 
ing up the dusty New York suit and 
appeasing the D. of j. While exact 
conditions still are not known, there 
has been officiiai confirmation for re- 
ports the pact would, have involved 
sweeping chariges'.. in the; structure 
and.miodus operandi of the copyright 
pool as well as complete overhauling 
of thfe licensing system; Unofficially 
it was leamed the comprori^ise would 
have embodied agreement to license 



performances on a per -piece basis, 
with abolition of the blanket fee, a 
different . basis / for splitting the 
ASCAP take so that new ; members 
might receive fatter checks, lirtiiting 
of the prgariizatiort to the function 
of police work in order to detect in- 
fringement; insuring -the right of 
iridiViduaV haVCTiriirig. by. writers and 
.cpmpbsefs, lowering of, thW member-- 
ship. eligibility bars, and a more deriir 
pcratic form of .cbritrpi. - , 

The Justice Department's objective 
in prolongeXand delicate maneuvers 
with ASCAPv was to, bring; about 
quasi-voluntary reforms that would 
meet all of the objections raised by 
the radio indiistry arid end the liti- 
gation oyer state anti-monppply stat- 
utes.: Once, this was accorriplished, 
there, would be no reason for the. 
radio industry to refuse to deal with 
ASCAP, but if the broadcasters: in-, 
sisted they would do busiheiss only 
with BMI there wOuld be- 
whelming proof that the.music-users 
had engaged in a con.spfracy of their 
own to restrain competition in the 
performing rights field. 

By. .moving against everybpdy, the 
ti-ustbusters obviously; ieel they can 
bring about the same results, possi- 
bly with less uncertainty; since the 
radio industry, would be in exactly 
the. same boat with ASCAP 

Dictatorial Position 

Argurhents that the copyright laws 
must be; revised and modernized :in 
order to assure ample competition in 
the licerisirtg. field have made no ef- 
fect on the Justice! Department.- If 
ASCAP's dictatorial position is abol- 
ished, there will be plenty of oppor^ 
tunity Under the present statute for 
competition without endangering the 
rights of any creators, in the govern-' 
ment's view. Besides, supplementary 
state laws— even if.fhe U. S. Supreme 
Court holds the present Nebraska 
arid Florida acts to be uncpnstitu- 
tional — could . make certain that un- 
fair advantage is not taken of the 
copyright protection'; ; Federal au- 
thorities indicate they believe . the 
decision Tuesday (24) upholding the 
Washington statute is more likely to 
represent the sentiment of the Su-. 
preriie Court than the Verdicts in the 
Florida and Nebraska case."!. 

Convictiori that the public Is 
trapped between two fires was ex- 
pressed by Arnold, who added .that. 
ASCAP repeatedly has been warned 
to change its. habits. Fact that Tin 
Pah Alleiy has been violating the law 
does, not mean that broadcasters are 
entitled to do the same thing, and the 
Justice Department cannot stand idle 
while a private 'feud injures every- 
body, he remarked. 



THE 



HUGH— PHVLLIS—JOr JEAN— RALPH 

Featiiredi on 

"TEXACO STAR THEATRE" 

CBS— WEDNESDAYS 
9 to 10 P.M., EST 
. Vocnl .ArrttnRciiX'niN nn<l I>Ire<-(lpP 
By lit' nil .M..\UTIN 
Ptrional Manaqoment: FftED STEELE 
9 Hockereller Vlnca; New York City 
Suite 004 COlumbiis 6-2143 



PROGRAM DIRECTOH De- 
sires Connection With Ad- 
vertising Agency or Radio 
Station. 
Box 26, VARIETY, 154 West 
46th St., New York 



DOIS'T MfSS 
PALMOUVE'S 




BESS JOHNSON. 
By Adelaide Marston 

Dedicated . to the women of Ameri.ca. 
Tho story of a woman who must 
choose between love and the career ; 
of ising other women's c.lii)d.reri. 

WABC-CBS-^:30.4:45 P.M.. EST 
78 Stations Coast-tO'Cbast 



Direction BENTON & BOWLES, Inc. 
Management ED WOLF, RKO BUILDING, New York 



Wednesday, January : ,1, 1941 



RADIO REVIEWS 



29 



•DEADLINE DRAMAS' 
With Ireene Wicker, R o b e r i s o n 

yiMit, WllUam FadlniAn, Gilbert 

Martin, Milton Reteiflicrg 

30'Mtns- ; 
Sustoinins' . 
Sunday, 10:30 p.n». . - 
\V'E;AF-NBC,; NiBW;. Yorlc" -/y ' ■ ■ 

This new iioyelty ad-lib. draniaiic 
show has possibilities as a sponsored 
seHes, but it needs, cohsiderable 
shttrperiing . and. polishing; - With 
such veteran :ether eiTioters asili'eehe 

; 'VVickei' and Robertson Ayhite'as dra- 

,xnqti?ers and William.. Fadinian, 
Kietro's,: eastern Stpry editor, .'-doing 
an lyi.c.-critic. stint in much the same 

• style his birother . Cliftbn Fadimah 
offers on 'Ihtormatioh .Please,*. - the ^. 
program ha^ distinctive perso'nalitiiei, .) J r., 

-plus HUirior, a contest, angle and- an 

■ e'iemerit of the uilexp'ected. . And,, 
from a commercial; standpoint, it ih- 
volvcs a ■ comparatively negligible ; 

^budget. -: .r, ., ■ . 

■ ■ iT^e formuIai ipf 'Deadline Dramas^^ 
' Js . a variation of . several . past and 

present program^. . AindnB them "are 
•Author, Author,' the defunct .Mu- 
tual series on [ Which name: Action 
writer v^uests. ad-libbed stories from. 
; given . situations, and 'JEUery Queen,' 
. on . which? guests tried .to supply the 
.denouements of . unCoinp^eted • WhoT 
■^'dujriif'yarns.; 

In this, case, from a situation conr 
talned. in a listener sentence of not 
more than 25 words, MiSs Wicker 
and White have two minutes to comT. 
...pose .ia di-ama, \yhich ; they then .octi- 
playjng all 4He parts themselves; On 
>the debut' show Sunday night <(l%y 
the t\vo sentencq^ were *Jane caught 
the -bridal :.bouquet, : then, turned 



'THE Cn-ADEl' 

Wlib Ralph Forbes, Jill Esmond, 
: Nell O'Malley. Cbarme Allen, Bur- 
ford Hai|^deii, Nclsoii Cflse, Biii 
■ Meeder. ' . - 
Transcription. 
15 MIns. : 
yVHEATENA 
Da,ily, 12 , noon 



ROCKY CLARK 
15' Mins.-^Local 
BEV ERW If CK ERE WERIES 
Wed.-Frl., 6:45 p.m. . 
WICC, Bridpepon. ; 

Promise to lay off war ; stufE ex 
rept .\yhen' it. has .Conhecticut arigle' 
lyas . made .in tee-off. of new., beer 



WEAF New 'York . i series or Rocky . Clark, .radio ed Of 

wtAr . wew, Yorpi. . . ■ . .. , . , .. .. .uddgeport Posi and : vetei'an nejvs- 
. .. . (ComptQii; - -.'.castor.. I£ he can find enough non- 

. Fourth in the series of .recorded : J'Cllum. nialei^al. to. flll, . the change • 
drama adaptations (if novels on . the ?ii.ay: be refreshiiig. 




'Wheateha Playhouse' program is 
from, A. J> Crdninrs best-seller 'the 
Gitadel,' . which was; ^also done j(s a 
film with Robert Ddnat and Garole 
Lombard, Like the others of the 
scries, it's adapted by .Herbert Little; 
'Jr.,- .and . David v Victor, package- 
produced : by Wolf. Associates; 
directed by Carlo DeAngelo: And 



Clai;k.-(wb-a-^week. briefs of stories 
.used, by - his paper, : which "supple- 
ments wICC local, service about an 
hpiir oai lier; Newspaperman's sense 
"f values is easily Superior to thai of , 
.«,tati'Qn.-.news'men.. .• ' -. I 

..ffeat . -spon'soi;. .touch clbslhg.l 
'!?alu.te to som'e local leader . Who. has ' 
tjuSt niadc good on Page 1; at preem i 
like sucft iprevious pl:\ys as '\Vuther- ' of Bridge- 1 

ing- Heights' on! the saiiiie series, it is 11'°^^ Red Cross. Person's, toasted with • 
a.sincerev genuine, dignified .and , ' 

moving' drama. It's milbs above the ! • ^"^^Vial angle- is that Clark s papser 
average seriial level. ': " | has been puttin.g the chill on .WICC 

. ■: Ot^nirig: . chapter - Monday (36) i '^er since, station tied up with oppO- 
placjtd the . prihcipal Character and i >^it>on daily for electiori . night rei: 
the setting— a. young doctor faced '-iTh."!. .AVhichvfias hothihg *6 do with 



With. a courage-cjuakihg .first .a,s.sigri 
•ment ias assistant , to. an aged physi- 
cian .itl^a'. grubby Enfelish ' mining 
•'town; , .^FiuSt-persoh. . narrativie-into- 
dramatization was in short scenes, 
Ralph Foib.es;- film and stage actor, 
plsys the idealistic medico with cbn- 
yincing r.eticence and the supporting 
character bits are well etched. Ro- 
' mance is apparently tp be a fiery 
•you;ig ,.schoolmarm;.. played by JilJ 
E.^mpnd. . picture and legit actress 



lieyerWyCk; . : , . • v Kiein. 



Fol!dw-Op Cominenl 



GEORGE. FORMBY 
'With . Geratdo Orcbestra 

'3a .Mitts..'" 

Wednesday; 6:30 p;in, 
;BBCj|-,Lohdon;' •• • 
' First of . series of enter taiih merits 
origiriatirig . within London, air-rraid 
shelters, could have been no; easy 
a.ssignment ,foi:' this ..North- Country, 
comedian',. Over the air the whole; 
thing, was thick ..Svith the inaugural 
atmosphere,, lopped, by. a brass-hat 
presence to bless proceedings and 
plus . Jiarhfi orchestra seemingly 
determined ' riever to de-freeze from 
in^orm&lity ofrcustomary .[West . End 
■niche.'.' ■,' ' . ' '• ■. ■" ■.-■'• 
■ Apipariently wising- to' the setrup 
right after steppiiifl oh, comediSn cut 
all paiter , and hung everything on 
his warbling arid ukulele. . Loosen-^ 
liig up that mob of awed .shelterers. 
would .havie called for alcohol. 



Conrad Nagcl^ regularly m.c.-nar- 
rator, and Claire Dodd played the 
leads on . the International 'Silver 
Theatre' .-Sunday "night (22) - over 

» .^„7-— -^o" M yCBS. Play, called 'Gnristmais. Aririi- 

\yrio:^tar.red ^on. Whcatcna's- previous ' sticc,' - claptra:p.- roriiarice. . .aboiif ; a 
VMUh^ring Heights.'; However; she | young doctor arid. a beautiful patient, 
\yas merely, mentiijficd, but didn't i It was embarrassingly syrupy arid 



and (burst irito tears' and ^PS*^?v^"m -i? "^^i!"*^ chapter, i . , bursting with, more wxitin-g.-clinches 



away 

, 'jilotheri how, do ybu ever . expect 
Charlie to propose, if Jane keeps 



Neil jO'Malley, Charme Allen., and ; than & daytime .serial.. . No author - 
Burford Hampden' . are amorig the ! ship ' .^credit' -.unquote, .Avas; gi.veri 



\itline in^he?rd6inr h^^^^ with Nelson Case-j Nagle .and MisisyCodd , played" 

' » II cveiine'^* ' ' ' ; annotmcing and Bill Meeder supolv- ! straight (and therefore as.- accept- 

au evcuu.6. ^ . ing the organ theriies arid bridges: J ably) a.s. possible. Next. Suriday 

, the resultant'. Commercials consisted of 4 brief night (29) Nagel will again play the 
motional coniT ; sponsor-identification at the opening male lead; with his daughter making 



.. , In.-, the first instance, 
: 'drama' turned on an emotional 
. plication • of . two couples- iand had 
■two parts each for. players. In ' the 
.secOnd, it Was a: mildly, humoroii.';' 
.riiixup abbiit a clumsy jguy's involved 
romantic affairs, with three, parts for 
Miss. Wicker and two for White, Each 
'. piece had a . vague siurprjse . endirig. 
, : One trouble with .the show is that ; 
. It is apparently niuch more amusing 
to the studio, audierice than to the 
dialers,. as the latter carinot. fully ap-, 
preciate the hectic quiality of the ad- 
libbed narrative and . the doubling of 
the various liarts. Frirtcipal fault of: 
the initial program, however, was 
the fact that Miss Wicker and White 
. are better ■ actors . than dramatists, 



.. ., ^ r — openmi, 

."nd. a reasonably, terse plug at the. 
close;- Kobe, ' 



'SECOND NlGHTERS^ 

With Paul Shinkmaii, Josepb Ship- 
ley, Ttayra Samtek* Winslow, L. L; 

: Stevenson, Jnlins Colby, Tom Hud- 
son ■;■ . 

30 Mins.'^Ldcal 

Sustaininc.' 

Monday, 8:15 p.m, 

WMCA, New York . 

On the apparent theory that wnat 
the theatre needs, is complimentary 
criticism, this weekly series was 
launched recently by the Second 
Nighters, a kind of a road com*. 



While their quickie creations \yere pany. New York Drama Critics 
ingenioiisly conceived, both ran way . Circle. Participating on the opener 
overboard^ because the co-authors I were Paul Shinkman, of Central 
obviously didn't have time for essen- j, press, as a sort of m.c. or spokesman; 
tial editing.;^ So both pieces were j Joseph Shipley, of the New Leader 

repetitious and failed to- ; proceed ; and head of the Second Nichters- . - 

directly to the point.. Passible' solu- i Thyra iSamter Winslow, of . Every- for CampbcH's /■ Soup, Fortimately,: 



making 

her debut on the .show- in . the .sup- 
ptjrting lead.. . / 

Ueridr ill Van - Loon is . doing >his 
iiisual patriarchal act as :the threcr 
.week .siib for Raymond Gram Swirig 
bri the White Owl session over .Mu- 
tual. The Hollander is, as .alWays, 
a perspective speaker. - He pitches 
his remarks in the echo chaniber of 
history. This produces a calm and. 
mellowness that is frequently , a 
happy change, of pace from the' hys- 
terics of the commercial hit-that- 
line boys. Obviously under repeated 
engineering warnings he manages to 
kcepi a tendency to wheezejathmati- 
cally . into, the mike's very kisser 
down to an octiasional flurry of air 
venting, ... 



Laurcrir'e Olivier- Vivien Leigh, on 

the eve 'of their departure for. Eng- 
land, did Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion* 



tion might be to set a specific time 
limit— say five or six minuteR-r-on, 
the dramas. That might keep the 
" author-acitors hustling in a bccrline 
to their conclusion, 

Fadimari, besides having an intona- 
tion and manner of speaking similar 
to his brother Glifton. has much the 
same, mike -personality. He' seems 
qtiick-witted on the air and. although 
he was painiy :p.ullirig his critical 
punches on the opener 
he could land some 
wanted to. Milton Reteriber„. ^ . 
soloing, supplies the musical open 
close, bridging and interludes 
bert Martin is announcer. 



woman;: arid L. L. Stevenson, of the 
Detroit News Service.- Julius Colby, 
WMCA drama appraiser, introduced 
thein and Tom Hudson was an- 
nouncer; 



G.B.S, probably will never ^hear the 
pro(iuctibri and. thus feel a need to 
regret the permission. It was a 
steadily drab, telling ot the ordi- 
narily exciting story. Confusion was 



Aside from the dubious question of ■ the net result of the editing. Here is 
whether unalloyed puffs are likely I a story that depends, upon the per- 
to stimulate the theatre inore' than ! fcctiOn- of .its detail, the play of 



momentarily, this particular program 
is of doubtful merit as radio enter- 
tainment, or even, as enlightenment. 



subtle cultural nuances, the slow de» 
vclopment ol personality. The time- 
limit conderiiried the radio version; 



'al obening recommended. Confab was inclined ."'"cn at tne cnaing was a carica- 
SlerGii:.to be formless,, .scattered and incom-! 1 Jj^e on ^Hr^^^^^^^ 
. . Hobe. : Plete, .and the views commonplace. "g^bei^u^to^ Ji^^ a pot 



Louisville.— Grady Clay has been 



Sunflower Hatcheries of Newton 



boiling concentrated soiip by. a stop- 
watch, 



named radio, editor, Louisville" and Wichita puts program on air for 
Courier-Journal. Radio cbluri-iri ha.^ first time over radio- station KFBI, 
been added as daily feature. ^ • Wichita, Jan. 1. 

Reeogniilon Appreciated 




NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Of. BR 

. ;(gbR'MANpr BuilOI'KlG.^1626 XiTRti^ : 

' .;^"'. ;>.'■.. -.^V- WA^'HINOTPN','b/:, '■■ . '! ■' 

ii*»;' ■''■■■'■■.,■■-'.-';■ :-•'-,. - ■v' . •-' ' . :; .■' '■• ';' ■.' ■_ - ■ . 



VARIETY, ■ ■ ■ '•'-. 

'1.64 iVe»t ■46.tb Strtet; . . ■ ' ' 

.' New ybrlc^Ni;^. .'.,,' ' 'v' ^ -'^ ' ' 

./.Oentlciisiftni >:■-'.•:'' ~ ...•;'' '"''.. ''^."-^ ■ ■ 

.. Oir-behalf'cf ; the )ifctVehtt;Aysoci4t'^-bn'.ef .B^^ 
CB-sters .1 wish to'exitress .-ow: .apprc-c.istiin fer-tlve . 
•ut'cial 'io'iO award in .reoegnltlon of - our •work. Im. . ; , 
■iomieotion-*4*h fhe C'pt^.or'Ethfo* 'aJii our .e.ffprta - 
to ' Msxir^ -iolii^aiic.e on Ttialo .progTMti. -. 

.Vfe va'iue'.thls' reco^ji'liioli' and It wets' tertVlnl.v: 
-noet ItlWd or VARIETy to; p\it. It* •tanp'of .approyai oii 
tlw-worlc whic^h We- haVei trUd; to do la .thli field. . 




Nevlllo 



Heart-tutrfi;inj^ Chi/istmas. morning 
half-hour '■■ NBC two-way broadcast 
between English evacuee children 
in Uriitcd States and ' Canada and 
their parents overseas. Humor . in- 
jected by one mother, who upon 
hearing that her daughter was pre- 
pared for a feast, warned 'And don't 
forget the castor , oil <' Ther« was 
another but milder- laugh when boy, 
ill -Canada, told one of his. parents, 
tn a resigned tone of voice, that life 
there wa.s, 'O.K.'. Children .showed, 
as: on previous salvbs of this krridt 
poi.'c and 'marineis-^apparchlly they 
land their parents were- ■ of middle 
i and. -iippor cia.^se??. • Aonouncer.a- prc- 
s(;ntin.ii tbe.'Childfcri were BOodi-:but 
Bon Graijeir, ; in ; New. ..York, - -was 
.standout... Difficult- technicfil .<;ide of. 
.bro.;Kic;i-st Was. flawlessly handlecl. . . 

(?oIurit^ia' Workshop, once a. pres- 
tige affair, liad' become prett-y much 

■ of a 'football aroitnd. the- CBS pro-: 
'jiji-iim:- dcp;\rtm<^ht -so- that Ills rioth-: 

.. ' I'ng . ? la r.t 1 i rig .that th e- 1 site . . Sunday 
.,-rv^>riif)g half-hour -i.s rio.\v to . be. han> 
d.H'd by .the heUvoi-k'is }Uniif)r,. 6r iap- 
! pi-enlifc, producers. . Oiie of. these 
.' studt-n(.«. - Jack . .Mfi.sc'm!iri.. w''!i.s , I'c- 
:--:>-'>i).t-::Ue f.br . la.'-.t- SUnda^v-s .(29) iri;- 
; jjtalli-i-i.ent. 'Dr.. Jo,bns<»ri- 'in -.S'-()i'-"y',' 
. j Crediteri .w::ji:h--b(;iHg ah -a.ssistant. y,:as. 
■ i :Jarri'e.<;/-Fleiriihjdi. lif-' ColiM/ioi'i.::-- 'li-.'/-'. 

nouncing; . injjff.' Who:- au.thorcd: 'tI1C• 
.!^.'cr^pt. - Latter turiied . out .Uit'tie 
' nipre- than si - linking. . together 
of .: exc-erpls , from th&- ; t\'>i>\ve}} 
Ijifv.i-apliiy -.'deii'Jing wKh the .'rioted 
vi-ii's . reaction ■ to ,.- a. tour .:;h(i 
madp' o/:^.ct)tland: ■ The .listener :got- 

■ :a fairly- rounded portrait of fj.amiiel 
Johrison-^jueirUlous, raspy '. arid : in- 

I tolerantly . opinionated— but the sub- 
I ject matter arid' pacing of the. aca". 
?' demic . icro.ssflre ;ralmo.st riiade : the 
event a .sure cure for insomnia. Jus- 
tice Wyatt did an acceptable Job by 
the name . i-oje; : even - though the 
Johnsonian wheeze Which is fre- 
quently mentioned by ; Boswell was 
missing entirely,. ; 



PL AN AG AN. ANB ALLEN ■' ' . ■. 
Witb Vera Lynn, Johnnie Rosen 

orchestra 
40 Mins. . 
Saturday, 9:35 p.m, 
..BB'C',, I^ondon.'- . 

. : 'kings! /'of .the: Music Hall' is. -act's ! 
fancy- : billirigw SessioiV on BBC's ' 
'Startime; left little' doubt how well i 
they support it. Duo may nOt; be ' 
unique but .<lo': combine. .nri .Uricariny \ 
'sen-se of Britisher's eritettairimerit. | 
yen with -class -.showmanship. Re- < 
suit is an -'all-arf)und laugh-jjetter. 
nostalgic . eye-Opener arid pleasirig 
vocal-.lestv, '■ ■ . 

Bud Flanagan ditties . ar*: voiced 
with, a. husky . coloring : lyrically 
wfapned to get - folks thinking of, 
01d\ Home Week..; Chcsriey ■Allen's 
straightirijg.. is in the. groove ." arid 
fella hits a .pleasant harmony, stride 
when' warbling with hi.s co-amuser. 

Show gave them lots of room for 
the zany by-play «n which team 
went to the top; nicely spiced with 
reprise items of their sorig numbers 
most aoy Londoner can still whistle. 
Scripting served the pair well: 

Since • previous catching of ■ this 
IStartime'. session improvement was 
eviderit in essential breakirig-up of 
show's pattern. Talent airing on the 
biographical piece get a breather; 
Vera Lynn was in for three num- 
bers here.. Girl is one of classiest 
pop warblers this side-, and rieatly 
showcased ori .this toplirie session; 



TEXAS RANGERS 
With Martha Meats 
Cowboy Mnsieal : 
15 MihB.~Rcgionai : . 
OLQ GOLD 
Wed., FrI., e p.m: 
KNXi Hollywood 

: . ((Lennen- ^ Afitc»icII| '.■ 
. Call it corn or what;you will, this, 
simple Utile piece of [the cow. coun- 
try arid , its grizzled characters' is 
listenable and relaxing. What makes 
it fall so ea.sily on the cars' is the' 
soothing miisic -of the Texas' Rangers, 
given liilling of 'America's, forerhbst 
'singers of western songs' arid' living 
Up to it to the hilt.. 

As for the- tales" spuri at Circle. G 
ranch, they're true to formula and. 
iighter. in treatment: than those 
coming off Gene Autry's 'Melody 
Ranch.' On this catching there was 
some banter about a rodeo contest 
with the cowhands of Triple T, but 
it's all Incidental to the music. 

Sin(?ing group- leads off with the 
themer, 'Two Cigarcts in the Dark," 
backing up Martha Mears, al.so . a 
plea.saht little vocalizer. It's perfect 
harriionlzing,- nOt.bric voice rising in 
crescendo above the other; and 
blended for '.soft, billowy effect. It 
" carries a iull that goes well with 
carpet slippers and smoking jacket; 
Reinditiori of 'Call of . the Capyon- 
was: especially noteworthy lb its sub- 
j dued; re.stful. pas.>>aKes.- ; . ■ 
I This, is, the program, that w.a.9 
broiight iri.by Ihe.agericy when Don; 
I .Ameche arid: hi.s dram.a.^music -half- 
r.hour-. on NBC was .stjllcid at option 
i-'time. ■ , Pwgrani i.s • wa'xed for other 
: turntables. -. . HcJm-; . 



. , ; :By;.EI)tWAIU(» -SMITH: ,-;.....' 
.The curiously: awaited return ot 
America's top xknking bantorie. Law. ' 
rerice. Tibbett, to the active ranks 
after k .vbcsJ . illness ' which ; had . 
silenced hir?i since'Iast May, proved . 
tO-be a. triumph for ibe singer. Much-. 
conceVri had been felt in musical: clr- ■. 
Cles- rei;jar<iirig "Tibbett; artd'-if had; 
been feared .that, his voice might be " 
.stilled 'forever; .. With . the : fli'st . feW ■ 
notes, of his operiirig ; aria!, 'Ert' tii,' ^ 
from Verdi's 'Un Ballo in Ma'schera,* 
all doubts, were dispelled.: The singer 
was cautious, rouchfmore so than has 
been customary foi!' him iri .thc palst 
decade; . Nor was he as pr(jdigal- ot 
tories as of .yore.. B.ut the .voice: tie- - . 
riiairis .. completely intact frbih ■ its.'^is - 
riiOre thah twoTpctave rangC; arid the 
long: , rest has improved, rait her , : Ihaii 
;injur.ed him.. , : • ' . 

; Tibbett's voice was and: is a swell \. 
instruriaerit; :that he is capable'of mis- 
using fOr desired effects, -and ^^ettirig ;. 
away ;with results, that few... if .any ,; 
baritones of today can duplicate.. Irt 
this 'in.starice the singer delivered his 
aria with an abundance 'Of feeling, 
shadirig. ;nnd piano effects that have 
placed: him in the highest possible . 
class of operatic baritones; The forcr 
ing' t(j • produce inore than the: re- .; 
quired amount of resonance that haj^ ; 
bejeri noticeable In recent years was 
.eritii^ely lackirig. aridi if .anythirig; his 
illness ha'siniproved rather: than hurt: , 
.hip-.Voice. -. 'v ■;-;:;';." ..,■:' :■-:■..-. 

Tibbett- 'strengthened this' cbnclu- .. 
slori bv his singing of Charles Gou*- 
nod's . 'Ring' out; Wild Bells.* and 
elo.sed hiS program f abbreviated to a , 
half hour because of President Roose^ V i 
velt's address ) with the hvmn. 'Our - 
God, -Our. Help in Ages Past.'.' His . 
first MetrbDolitan Opera anpearahce 
will be in the title role of 'Rigoletto,* 
Friday (3). 

The orchestral part, of the program 
consisted of the overture tb ^Nozze dl 
Figaro;' arid 'ShenardsTehnel Dahce' : 
hy Gardiner,, with the Detroit -Sym-. . . 
bhbny ;r)layirig listlessly Under: John; 
Barbirolli. 



QERNIE ARMSTRONG ORCH/ 
WJtb-Kinder Sisterii 
Mnstci Songs : 
15 Mins.-T-LocaI , 
DUQVESNE BREWING COv 
Friday, 7:45, p.m. • 
KDKA, Pittsburgh. 

Quarter of hour of .uninterrupted 
mtisic; Beer coriipany sponsors nave 
wisely passed up the temptation: to 
clutter such a short period with coih- 
mercials. and the plugs are limited 
to brief ies at the beginning, and, at 
the • end. Nothing more. ; Further* 
rinOre; - there isn't an ahnouncerinent 
during the show; : . the continuity's 
carried, .or what continuity there is, 
by the three Kinder - Sisters; who 
sing a few, bars Of every chorus, in 
addition ;to ' their own xouple ot 
vocal, spots. ' 

It's the biggest orch; 21 men, ever 
assembled fOr a local Pittsburgh 
comriiercial , and Armstrong has 
whipped it together in a slick fash- 
ion; While ASCAP-BMI' battle has 
naturally Hriiited his' repertoire,, ha 
managed to corral enough tunes In 
the qtiarter-hour reviewed to show 
the outfit off to good advantage. 

■■' Cohen. 



'YOUNG lADY AT LARGE' . ^ , 

:?5eriai':' :■: - : ■- 

15 Mins. .: ■::■': 

Wednesday, .";15 pini; : . V 
BBC, Londoit ,. ; 
. This riiihery . offering .wa,s due to 
be launched ;wiih . jefi.sie-. Matthew.v. 
rnu.iicai-comcdy .star, in- the. load,: 
She bowed otit.at the. last momcrit 
■W^hich -supp.o.ses -Mf,ss-:"Matthe.ws ';i.s a 
yOUnfJ lady tit large with 'a wi.se 
head. 'If; as .wa,<i Hinted.. BBC lands 
: lier f (jr epi.spde . two it - cah :t)hly. be 
becau.se' she ' developed.- anaesthesia, 
•Fan^.remembc.'r;,Tc.«si.e Miitthe.W.s a.s :a": 
talented : perfornicr: after a d6.se<;bf 
this one they might " have ' sortie. 
tWublc doirig .sO.''- . ' - 

„ Like .the old adage it isn't :Whjit it 
does so much a-f thiB Way it d6cs .it; 
Script iT5 a pninfully.; amateurish 
piece of writing .around dpings of a- 
youngster nraking her way up the 
long, climb of show biz— likened to. 
the career of Matthcw.s, suppo.^edly. 
It has the .meapy tincle .whsj ^iihurits 
her out Into the dark hjte * wind' ma- 
chine please)- arid leads her to do- 
i . wayside sOng and dance audition 
in. her seanties f television, please); 
Young lady- all over the place. 



•VAGABOND'STRAIL' 

With Jerry Lawrence, Bob Stanley, 

Brad Reynolds 
Poetry, mupie, songs 
30 Mins. 

Friday, 11:30 P, M. 

WiiB, New York ■ 

This .Show consists primairily of 
poetry read by Jerry Lawrence, 
I agiainst a background of light classU 

■ cal. music played by Bob Stanley arid • 
the WOR house orchestra. With inter- 

■ polated : songs by Brad Reynolds, , 
I tenor, . P.oetry is well choseri and . 
. better - read but auestiOn of doubt 

' is latenps.s, of the .hour.- Selebtipris : 
I .such' ns Tehaikov.sky's. 'Nonp; But the .-. 
'LohelV Heart,' 'My Grandfather's. - 
i Clock,' and 'Sdrtg.My Mother Taught 
'Me* is the type of music used; with ,, ' 
the: latter two surig .-pi e a si ri g l y 
chough by Jleynolds in a sriniall 'Irish*^, 
tenor.' .'... r -: /■ -/'x' ■■' :.-v. '.:-. ■ ■ . ■■/ 
The my thical a.tmtispherc; Sought - 
by . the program ;iriight.:serv.e better.' 
in the .twilight hours; since at 11.30 - 
the; ij«tcricr : is more than .likely -to;. ^ 
.. fall p.y.lce'ii, lulled by- the quiet .drone 
;of I;awrerice!is . voice; and jhe s.oft-, 
:' n^ifis of . the -musical, b.a(:kgrbund^ ' ■ .' 

• %A r Giimci L AD Y ; ''. 

With .John Glclgiid, /Eidith Evans. 
. IS Mins. 

: S'undssy, -3:30 p.m. 
: .BRC!;;Lohd«!h,:'■ 
• Episodic! play writteri .arbuhd'-Coil- 
i trnerital arti.st Gaudier .suffered In- 
deed from that treatmoritv .-By-ithe-' 
- w,ay characters could flit In.'arid-.out, 
but by frequency tended- to create • 
. thcalrical; corifystoa ' -Iplece . as • 
j^WhiDle..:.^ :' •■■/ '■' .' :■■ '•■ '.: ■■: ■ .. 
I jParts of. dramatics came Over as - 
hiijhf.'i'ade. voiced with.' telling, :his<v« 
r trroriics by legiters John Gielgud and : 
Edith Evah.s. Actor's investiture ot ■ 
J the. hitfh-splrited ".sculptor provided, 
.a lively portrait of the crtisadlnB' 
. young Frenchman who threw it all , 
! In the face of War Orte. Miss Evans* 
.: handling of hi* Swedish love wai.t > 
> thing of both dliHriity »nd fire. 



BO RADIO MARKETS 



Wednesday^ Japuary 1, i9i.l 





Hr^NewsonKHJ 



SALT LAKE LOCAL OK 



Category .Keeps in Black— Ani. 
. Renews KSL 9th Year 



Fur 



Los Angeles,; Dec/. 31-.' 
! Noticeable: increjases in all^bi-ackets 
helped local . trade out .Cl . the. dol- 
drumii, but ■ the r^ds stilt .had the 
Vlacks on the run. Differentials wei'e 
iO'sletider. In many spots that the ag- 
gtegite showed only fractioii^iil. pick- 
ups,' ' . ■ ■ .■■ - 

: KNk to6k heart oh nieW biz, and 
the outibok at other ; sites is also 
prdmisihg. " Dm Let's KHJ. showed 
the heist gains .ih iiew Ume sales.' . , 

KNX: Forest Lawh.M^niotial Park, 
52 quarter^hbur periods, through Dan 
Miner; Central Chevrolet, :78 particl- 
ptMibhs. • in newscast,.; through StodeJ 
Adv.: Mounds Candy, 260 averminute 
newscasts; thrciugh By isaicher,". Davis; 
Tederal .OVijtfltting,: 39. quarter-hour^, 
through . Helritz, .Pickering; Rem, : p 
■weather. ; r€portsi \ through. >^ 
Katz. ' " ' 

KHJ: Broadway Department Store, 
624 quarter-hour new.scasts, through 
Lee Ringer; Crovfell-Collier Publish- 
Ihi eb.i 52. qnaTterThour ' pt:ograms; 
through McCahii'-Ericksoh; .. .Gospel 
broadcasting.' Asish;, 5i. fuli-rhbut pro-; 
:gram^, through R. H, Alber; Mar-Or 
Oil Shampoo, quirter-hour... broads 
casts bf Georgie:. Fisher's 'HoUyWobd 
. Whisiiers,' through Hays MacFar- 
lahd; Fostet-Millburn (Do.ah's Pills), 
J04 ahnbuncemerits, 'thrbugh Spot 
Brbadcastihg Co.; Haas-Baruch, ..78.0 
ahnouhcements, through .Robert 
fimith." ■ ■ 

KFI: . Maurice' Ball (furs), 26 an-; 
nouncemehts,, through 55fellie Walsh 
agency; Hires • Root Beer, .26. r 
nbuncements, thrbiigh .O'Dea, Shel- 
jdon & Cahady; Vapex, 39 one-niinute 
'banscriptions, through: Small '& 
Seiflter.,; :■ • 

KEGA: Foreman" & Clark; three 
quarter-hbur ; broadcasts of . 'Rose 
BoWl Roundup.l through Martin Al- 
len; Associated Druggists, four quar- 
ter-hbur- .broadcasts of Treasure 
Hunt,* through Smith & Bull; Ihnes 
Stipes/ 26 ahnpuhcembnts, . thfpugh 
Biith Ha^milton Assbciates. . 



SEATTLE LISTLESS 



No 



Gains Registered— Local 
v. ...... Vp.Besi . 



Holds 



^.'. ''r-y, .Sedttle,- ^Dec," 3i;.'-' 
No gains -werie notecj over the prei- 
Vibus week • herie,' but" local stopped 
short on its .downward fide -tb . stay 
bn the fight side of the fence. ■ 
; Outlook for jCOming . monlhs is rer- 
pprted' good,: with local expected, to 
get the lioii's shafe' of biz irtcfeases. 



I pec, . 28 Compared to Dec. 21 



Network 
tnits : 
> 5,710 ; 
5.735 ■ 

—0.4.%. 



Local 
, tlnlts ; 

.:10;37.8. 
10,363 

■TtTO.1%;. 



National 
SpptljnlU 

760 • 

■■■ ■■■ :778'=.- 

—2.3%. V: 



Po.^t-Christmas slump , noticeable 
in all departments .but nb pne .fe«ls 
top. badly.i. after the biggest holiday: 
build-up in .history. .Sag. in local 
business is helped:' cbhsidcirably': by 
renewal of KSL cbntfact with- the 
American ^fur Company . for 31? 
quarter hpurs, probably 'hews rpimd- 
:ups,' to be heard at 10;30 p.m., Moti- 
<iay .through Fridays. .This is. ;tlie 
ninth consecutive year, for Amer- 
ican Fui-.bn KSL atid it is generally^ 
cbricedeci here that this account is 
Salt ^iLake's shining example of fe- 
sUlts. froin radio : advertising. .Frank 
McLatch'y' iSy account '.ex^^ 

. KDYL: Hilton i Cramer J.FiofistsV 
52 . 2S-w.ofd -annbuncemeihts; Dr. E. 
E. Kellef;>52 .prie-minUte ahnounce- 
liitai I TTients; Makb 

Units JTiehts; .Rialtb ."Theatre/ one 15-miiv' 
16j848 program; Irttei'niPuhfairi Thea- 
lfi 87fi j trcs,: four, flve.-minute :. programs; 



(IiiclUiJedJ KIRO. K<>L..; KHRC 



—0.2%. I 





140 





Dec. .28 Compared to Dec. 21 : [ 



Ketwo.f k 
Units 
12^801 
12,920 
—0.2% 
(tncluded: 



Local 
Units 
8,894 
9,054 
—1.8% 



National 
SpotUnita 

: 1.659 
: 1,706 • 
. -r2.a% .- 
KVI, KFWB, 



KMX) 



Total 
Units 
23^444 
23:680 
—1% 

'KHJ; 




. . ;. Baltimore, Dec. 31. 
Off in, all classifloations, with local 
count taking :the . deepest dip because, 
of expiring contracts and new deals 
in the;, making, this "town is never- 
theless winding up one of its most 
profitable years. Considerable iex- 
pansion and neyr building was cprri- 
pleted and -all stations, reported new 
biz frpm accounts just beginning to 
warm up to the air as an ad medium. 
/With WBAL busily engaged in de-; 
velbping its setup- to accommodate 
its new f uUtime . SO.OOO-watt license, 
and WCAO also planning an increase 
in power, tpvirtfs pther-two stations— : 
WFBR arid WCBM^have completed 
their elaborate new studio, quarters 
arid ambitious! merchandising tie-ins. 



Salt Lake Qlass iS Paint, p halt 
hour ■ p.rpgram; .Prudential . .^Fed- 
eral. Sayings, ,52 h^ 
nqiliicenients; Less Taylor Mbtbr, two 
tie-ins weekly : to Kaltenborn; Qua!? 
ity Press, one 15-rrilnute prograni; 
Mullett Kelly: Co. (Clothiers), 52. 
ilOO-iybrd, annotii^'cements; . Strong 
Motor Co., 26. lOO-wbrd annpunc.^- 
mbnts;; "Fred A- Carlson Motors, one 
15-minute program;. Sweet ^aridy 
Co;, .■ . 25-w.ord anrio.uricements;- 
Paramount TheatreSi' 16 50- word 'an-, 
nounciemen'ts; I. & M. Rug, 52 100- 
word' .arinbuhcements;- '. ..'.■■/ 'rl- ' ; 



JDe'c.:;28 .Compare.d to . Dec. .21 



Network Local 
Units . Units 

. .7,508 ■ ;. ^2,934^ 
:-7;711 ■. 2,817; 

+.4.2% • 



'National 
Spot Units 

. . 57i ; -" 

624 

^.5% 



(Ihclu<lcrt: KPY.I;, KSr,. Kt;TA)' 



Total 
Units 
11.013 
11.152 
Wl.2% 



DEPT. STORE SALES 
HELP DETROIT LOCAL 



' ■ . , '.Detroit. Dec. 31. 

. With network, inflated a weeik ago 
with a pair Of fl^hts.. settling back to 
normal and both Ibcal and" national 
spot showing iairi,s'h: gain^ during a 



normally, dull sea?on, the pipture bore 
New station, WI'TH, set to open in . i'n't bad as the year \vinds up. Sa 
i?ebruary on 250 •Watts by "Tom. Tihs-'i stlSffs. too, are repprtiiig that, when 
ley.'plarining cbricenerated. drive on ' 1941" rolls in 'there will .be some 



strictly , local ^doings with a low raite 
the coritemplated . clincher. :•; 



Dec, 28 Compared to Dec. 21 



Network..,,': Local - 
Uiiits Units 
.8,927 ' 4,364 
9;b55 . 4.937 

.-7-1.4"/ --11.6% , 

(inrlurled: , .WB"AL, 



National 
Spot Unita 

: 1,621 

1.678 
—3.4% .. 

WCAO. ' 



healthy anhpuhcementS of additions.' 

■Giving a spurt .to .the Ipcal end in 
the week interrupted by. a holiday 
w-as . the; last-rhihute.^ store appeals 
■ Total '■ which, have . bl^ij^ded right past thie 
Uiiits;. holiday intp pilu'.lging the post-Christ- 
14,912 j mas. bargain sales which cbiine along 



15.670 



Stella Unger on WliAC 

Nashville, Dec. '31. 
- 'Holiy wood Headlines' : featufirig 
Stella linger has been sold to Mea- 
dows, Inc.; shoe corporation by 



Chicago, Dec; 31. 
Currept year finishes strictly; on 
the upbeat from the . previous year, pWLAC, Nashville.. This is a five min 
.even though 1939 was an- excellent l ute e.t. to be aired Mondays, "Wed^ 
year in itself. . Particularly joyed by nesdays, and Fridays at 10 a.iri', 



the 1940 increases were the N^C sta 
jitehs. here, with Harry Kbpf, NBC 
nentral divisioh .phief, stating - that 
network business sold out of this 
.division hopped: . approximately . 10% 
over 1939. The gross incpme on 
. WENR was boosted. 48.6% oyef .1939,: 
While an incriease of 8% was re.!?is- 
tered by "WMAQ. . Latter butlet had 
only early rnorhing and late' evening 
time. bpen, having beCT sol- 
idly, ance. 1939, with""7aini. to lip p^ni, 
commercials and nqnrcaricellable pub- 
lic service rsustainers.'^ 
. /Other 'stations have nbt stated theif 
Increases statistically yet,- but -. there 
lis no question of the/Jumps throughr 
; out the ' field. Especially bn' the up- 
heat wef 6' the two ; Raljph Atlass sta- 
tioriij WJJD and . WiND, with the lat- 
ter station .blanketed with cbritfner- 
clals . and . ;WJJD heeding, a time- 
spreader, d'u^ to its slmset closing. " 

"WGN: C^Heilerni^n ■ Brewing; ■ ' ah- 
npiincement, five . , times weekly, 
throiigh the. Ramsey agency;. Pepsi- 
Cola Co., . "annbuncemfent . tavtt. times 
weekly, through ■• Carhpb^ll agency; 
Mat-O-bil Shampoo, : a - Mutual com- 
niercial, ifn twice ..y/eekly, 

through Hays MacFarl'ahd; Clicqupt 
Club, thre|^ station-break; annpurice- 
ihents - sfi days . Weekly,, thfough 
fechwirtither . Scott. .- ' 

I , • Dec. 28 Compared to DecTTtl.- | 



starting ^an. 1. 



plentifully, 
,. WJEK signed up for rienewal pt 
Altes Beef on .a year's: contract itpr 
38 spots per week "scattered thrbugh 
il foreign-language broadcastsi ' 



Dec. 28 Compared to Dec. 21 



NetWork 
Units 

: 9,491 
. . 9.635 
—1,5 'A 



. Local 
Units 

12,260 
12,052 



(Included: CKT.W. 



^Natibniar 
Spot Units 

4;C94 . 
4.C45 

H-i;i% 

W.IHK. wjn. 



WW.l, VfXYZ) 



ToUl 
Units 

. 26.445 
26.332 
+0.4% 

W.MBC. 




Sii^ Sponsoring News 
Oapon Lee {)iidet$;F risc^ 



' ; / -San Francisco, De'c; 31.. '■ 
kSFO, CBS butlet, broke ! out w ith 
a fullrpage ad ih the Examiner list- 
ifig 100 features headiined ."This the- 
atre in your living fbom."' .' Body of 
cbpy. stresses 'Thanks to ypu;/K.SFp 
is enirusted .with .a pathway through 
■this air pf .yblirs, What -is KSFO do-: 
ing, with this- trust? It transfofnis 
your -air. into :. a field of sport, a :her- ; 
aid of riewis, a public fbfunjV a caf ni-. 
val of sbrig,^ of laughter!' .Urges fa'qs 
to ;SaV$ the program listing i^nd . adds:, 
'During the .cbming year, ; as in .1940, 





CINCY UNITS DIVE 

Pbst>Cliflstihas Slump Hits Firnreii 
. /Total Off U.7% ;' " 



. . V . Cihcinhaij/ Dec. 31. . , 
'Local and spbit aiccoufits tpbk their 
customary af fef rXmas divb last week, 
while network biz. held even with'the 
week hefpfe. '.; 

... liule. here. is. for tiine. sales ,. to re-, 
gain, slowly .dufihg' January atid . put 
on sfieafh as Eastef heiairs. . 



I ; Deo.: 28: Compared to Dec, 21. 



Network 
Units , 

. 6.655- 
€,655 



Local; 
Units 
8,189 
10,658: 

.■'-23.-2.%: 



National- ; ToU1 
Spot Units Units 
6,403 V 21,247 
• (5,762 24,075 
■^5.3%' : -^H-7% 



': * No change; 
(inc,lii<lPd: Wt'Pa;- 



VKRC. WliW, WSAI) 




Walk Superintendents' Club. Gang 
then/Was whisked to .Mardikiari's for 
s:fie^y. '- :''^ [■,'■ '■■■■ ■■ ...:•"/' 

KFRC has sold and will priginate. a 
newscast for release aver^.Oregpn and 
:'Washingtort ■ Don , Lee- outlets pnly; 
SporiSprr Xs iSpteckels :Sugar, • wHich 
Will - Use . 15- .mihUtes. - three - times 
weekly pn a split contract : running- 
jan. 20 to Apfil.l8-ahd Oct. 6' to Jan. 
2,. '41, - -.J. . Walter "Thprnpspri. handled 
'the-accpunt;'.',;. .■ v/ ■ • .'.■■7< 

.: • Sarvie web's, ace Cpasf .; hcWsica.'Jter!' 
John B; -.Hughes, leaves. ..Wednesday 
(1)- lor Washington, and New York 



San Antonio,; Dec.- 31'. 
With the Christmas season, past his 
tbry, uiiits in this ^city. have taken a. 
slight dfop; Football stili cbntiniieis 
to aid several stations; Several sjpe- 
cial events broadcasts the past .'week 
also ate into- the, totals,; . •; 

Leona Bender,- editor of! the iWOAI 
^Women's Page bf the Air>' took a 
trip to Fpft Wprth- and Dallas to 
gather .ihaterial .for her broadcasts. 

KABC: East- West football game 
throijgh Mutual network spbnspred. 
by Gillette Safety Razor Co. through 
Maxon, Inc' ; Cbtton Bowl gaine from 
Dallas through- Mtttual for . Kriox 
Gelatine Co.; renewal of twice week- 
ly Gabriier Heatter comrnentary for 
Liberty (Maofadden Publications)..on. 
Mutual; renewal of full-hour 'Old- 
Faghiorted Revival Hour' on Mutual 
network : sponsored by the . Gospel 
Broadcasting Association; Central 
"TypieWriter Cp„ quarter-hour Sun- 
day 'studio .program; renewal on an- 
hounceinents for Southern Wine Co., 
^direct.';.... 

WOAI: Humble Oil and - Refining 
Co.. through . Franke-rWilkinsori- 
Schewitz, , sponsorship . of , /.Cotton 
Bbwl gaihe from Dallas oh Texas 
Quality Network, Leon Cariithefs, .13. 
100-wofd . announcements, difect; 
"Tom Dickey . and His ShOwbbys,'. 
quarterThour Monday "through; Ffi.-, 
day for Chattanboga Meditihe Co., 
thrbugh Nelson Ghe.sman Go. (pro- 
gram also fed to KPRC, Houston);. 
Ed Auge Packing Co., through Coul- 
.ief-Meuller-Grinstead, . 26 IQO-word 
annbuiicements; ; Ex-Lax, Inc., 
through Joseph Katz, five" spot an- 
npuntements' per week;" Aurbra 
Apartnient Hotel, through Maripp 
Jphn.son; two daily, rotating an- 
nouncements with one ; additional 
each Monday. ■- - - . : , . . 

. KMAC: "The Ghicken Roost, niew 
night spot, " three siJOt annourice- 
ments per day. .direct; ;J^edical;..Spei- 
cialties,^ inc., . for "Vitalax, - two an- 
nouncements per. day.. ''' 



;Dec;. :;;Z8 CoDipared .to Dec; 21. 



Network 
Units 

.Ui'TT:"'''"- 

^\ft229 

-0;8^J. . : 

■ .(rncluil(i(1; 



Local ' 
Units 

8,958 
.8.981. 
-0.3%. 



National 
Spot Units 

. ; 1,173 :■ 

1.229 ■'. 



Total 
Uiiits 

.16,308 
,1«.4,19 
--0.8%' 



A.a, .^PNO, .K r.S/V, 



KSTP'i 1941 Start 



JSlinneapotis, Dec.. 31; . 
Niew bUinhe.'is. booked;^^ 



KSFO .willcbntinue.to bfbadcastthe: -ir/- ^- - .u- , - ^ r 

rxr^i,,^.. ,.^. He will cover opening; of congre.ss, the ; early; part of the . new year in 

vii5it his friend Fulton Lewis and drir .cllides ■ a 52-Week contract for. Has- 

at.:least one. T.C. . from .the east . His [ kins Brothers' Spark. So 



/ , All Gpthami unitSi. with the excep- 
.tioii of the unchanged network fig- 
ure,. ;:felt the effects " bf ^ the post-- : 
•Christmas slunip this Wtfek. - Lbcal 
units dropped -'11.3%, natibhai -spot- 
6.8%y With a total loss of 9 3%:. , 

- WHN;/Mbna Maiiet, Inc., -through: 
LeS.tef : Harrison Associates, station ' 
break annourtcerhehts, 13- week con-, 
tract; Roxy 'theatfce, through Key tbnr 
Spiero, spot announcements; Friday 
Magazine, - through H, C- Morris Sc. 
Co,/ cbmfhen.ts by' Dan Gillmor, edi^ 
tpr of Friday, three 'IS-minute prp- 
gfams weekly^ 52-.week bpntfact.- 

WINS;' Mrs; WiUiani : Mizell (Miss 
Gladys Hogan)^ 'School for' Speeth/ 
direct, ■' six ;. i pnef-minute annouhce- 
; mentis -Weekly for 13. weeks. 

. 'WM(:Af XfeNVis^Howi, Co. (tufns:), "; 
thrbugh Stack-Goble, halfThotir pro-., 
.gram weekly, 52-\ve6k contract; Dia-: 
mond Crystal Kosher Salt, through 
Benton & Bowles, . spot announcer 
ments for 13; weeks. . 
..WNEW:; B.eeph.-Nut' Packing Co.,. 
thrbugh/N'ew.ell-Enimett, 'Dance Pa!,- 
rade,' ohe hour and a haU, . six . eve- 
nings weekly; 52-week oontf act: Boxy 
theatre and/or 20th' . Centuf y Fox 
Film - Cprp^i.. tlirpugh' Kaytbn-Spiero- 
Co., 11 annoUnccnients, bneweek. 
■r WOR: . Atlantic :;Maciafohi ; Go^ 
through Prudential Advertising 
Agency, nighttime station break an-.' 
nbuncements,- twice Weekly, 26- week 
contract; Longine Wittnaufer-^Cclnc., 
through Arthur Rbsenberg. Co., fpi'. 
Frequency Modulation : tiriie station, 
5.2-weck contract. ;■ 



I Dec. 28 . Compared to Dec. 21 - | 



Network 
Ujriits 

. 195- 
'195 
» 



'tOi^t 

Units 

10,213 

■ i},f>n 

-11,3% 



National 
SpotUnlis 

7,930 ; 
8.510 

—6.8%' ■■ ■: 



To to! 
Units 

18.338 
20.217 



* No change; 
(fnoliKled: WJIN, 

^yQ.\■RX 



wSkt.v. W.N'RW, 





IN SALT LAKE 



Salt Lake City, Dec. 31. 
The threshold Of 1941 finds Salt 
Lake : fadip. very lively with KSL 
readving. for, Frequency IWodulation, 
KDYL about" to begin building their 
long planned $125,000 broadcasting 
plant, and KUTA expanding from 
250 to l.(jOO watts; jncludmg chang.e 
of frequency froni- 1,500 to 570 .kilo- 
cycles. ".- .-./ . . •; ■' . •;'" . 

; Radio men here' predict, on the 
basis of business. already bboked that 
1941 ' will - top this year's volume; 
Which ; has been highest . in history. 
Intcrniouritain Network, formed from 
outlying stations KLO, KEUB and 
KPVO came into being during 1940. 
and brought Mutual into this terri- 
tpry. Other than that, it made, little " 
noticeable difterence tb the radio 
picture in Salt Lake but after a 
pbripd of uncertainty and switching 
of pensonnel. the regional network, 
seem.s ready to get down to business, 
or' pise; 



DES -MOINES SLACK 

Nat'l Spot Inches Up— Other 'Bracks 

■^•'■>•;•L:ets^■,Sllde...■^.■-■ .■-■.•■/;■■" 



■ ^ bes Moines; Dfec; 31. /^ 
" : trnij.'? here took. the . expected, pbst- 
hbliday slide— ^Ipcail .bizV being the 
hea;vie.st Joser. Natipiial .spPt -Was the 
pnly; bracket shbwing a gain,, and 
that a puhy one;. . ; /■ 

I Dec. 28- Compare d to D ec. .2 1 
Network Local ' Natiblfa'l . "rotar: 



.Network- Local. Natibhai / Total 
ito-VnIts Units Spot Unit? Units 

" .6,855 6,100 11,134 i27.089 
0,855" 6,346 . ..11,177 27,378 
' •. * —3.9% -4).4% —1.1% 



* No change. 

(Ihcludcd: WBHM, 



WRNR, WflN,. WIND, 



WJJt), WLS, WMAQ) 



programs yo.U: want to hear,; It's- our 
■way of saying Thanks.? 

V "Vu- """""" '"C""' ~" ""l^'^^^I ^V^*^.- Sal Hepafica.rK .15-minute, 'five-a-weck "program; 

•to the ;;pr^ss- here . jn behalf . of the j .win ;be .carried ' pri ■ by Arthur Van 1 13- week renewal on Richman Broth- 
Call-Bulletins . .^^nn^^ dufi.hg his 10-day. ■abseric.e,.; \ ; |.crif. :Cl6tiiiefs. for .news,- and^adfUtiorv 

Dr. ;E. L. Laishe. optbmetVist, has > of .three, • w^^^ 
shifted ' his. "i?pOnsorship. - of -..hourly i cpmpai>y: newscasts. . - 
newsflashes frprn KSAN tb^ KRE. ' . Incidcntaily, American (jhicle nbw 
Bbrkplcy." ;-V; - -'.-■ . ...'; -ri.s sponsoring, three; Morning 

21 



Units Units 

8,010 .2,813 
8.176 3.156 

—2% . -.1:0:9% 



Spot Units 

; 3,206 

3.181- V 
4-0.8^^ 



Units 

14;029 
"14,513 

-^3.3%-; 



(IhrljirtPfl:. Ktl.N't, .K.-jO. AVIHV. 



Christmas pai-ty in; (iivic; Auditorium. 
With Rudy .Vallee-; Fannie -Br ice arid 
ttanley. Stafrbfcl. arfiving by train in 
the a.m.,' Nelson sent equipment to 
the depot,: waxed ; a CDmpIete 1 5-mln^ 
ute shbw ni.e.ed by Larry. Keating 
and Vallee, arid theh played it back 
no less than six times during the day 
on KGO and" KPO. In addition tb. a 
Baby Snooks skit, 'the. disc included 
pwearing-in of the celebs . by George 
Mafdikiati "as. iheiiibers bl .the Side- 



Dec,, .28- Compared to. Dec 



Network 
tflits 
11.365 
11,165. 

;-i% 
(included: . 



Local 
units 

3,952 
3.991 

.-1:% 



Ilaiison's Corn Salve *^ 
On WD AJi^, Kansas t^^^^ 

. ■ ' Schenectady; N/Y;, Dec,: ; ; 
• Hanson's"; Corn Salve- ii? bcin*^ 
pi'uggcd;. via a series of biiernvinule 
traksctibtlorertrrWDAF. Kaii'sas Ciiy, 



papernj-fniie—AIr. periods. Dh"\KSTP., trah.«tip^ 
^Natib"nal-'~^T5tai i ^^ ;"i'**"le.s- each "at. 7:30 a.in< and add.-; aiid: WFRC, Sari ifrancisco, liii ■a...l,e.st 
Srini iTtiKtt " "itniti !^hrce"15-minute. 'Hichlighls hv ilead- campaign. More stalioiis. are to be 
lines' at 5:43 ; p,m;. "Tiiesdays, Thurs- : added later. W. T, Haii.iiui' Co., 
days and Satui-days. Richman re- maker of several nicdicihal prepai:a- 
tains it.? 'Hi!?hlia:hts' in Hradline' .spot ;tion.s, :is the sponsor/ 



Spot Units 

2.338 
2.369 



Units 

17.655 
' 17.345 
—1.1/'; 



Kfll), . KJUs!, 



Ki'O >-Mohda.v. .^Wedi-ic.sd.n.v: and H'riday for j - Leislitoh 8i Nelson, ; Seh,e.noclady. 
«; ' I another, is-week framb. . . ' ia the agency^ " 



^J^etlnesday, Jinnuaiy 1, 1941 



MUSIC 




Ldew-iMetro • people who w^nt 
into the music ; publishing business, 
by acquiring Arms for outrigjit op- 
eration, did so with two express pur- 
poses in inind; opei filrhs and picture 
theatres, and two ''■ with aii ultimate 
eye to. television. V ., 

That's why the , visib: rights were 
such a . hurdle in Metro-Robbiris' re- 
newal with' ASCAP, and- it's under- 
.vsiood . that the major . .concessiqni 
made to the Ferst,, Miller and Rob^ 
bins Music firms was the Society's 
agreement not to restrict television 
rights unto itsdf, but grant them 
Wholly to Loew's, Ihc» (Metro).: 



ENGEL SEWS UP COAST 
COMPOSERS FOR BMI 



. ; Hollywood," Dec. .31. 
Exclusive performing rights, to the 
c6]tiipbsiti6hs of two songwriters were 
clinched last week for Broadcast Mu- 
,sic, Inc.^ by Harry. Engel, Coast head 
. of the new tune factory. Deals were 
.siealcd with Alberto Colombo for spe- 
cial ' band arrangements of his 
marches, and for' all future' numbers 
by Hiimberto Herrera, Brazilian com- 
poser. Latteir has 250 tunes to his 
credit, mostly of the^ Latin tempo. 
Colombo was one-tim«i rriusic .direc- 
tor, at Republic studios. 

As an NBC saiteguard again.st pick- 
. Ing up restricted . music, in the 
Tournament of Roses parade in Pas- 
adena New Year's day, Engel tied 
up 10 bands for the exclusive tootling 
of non-ASCAP. music. 



SUES TED FIO RITO 



Operator of Casino Can't Collect 
$1,60& From Leader 



. .Cincinnati, Dec. 31.. 

Jirhmy Brinlc, proprietbr of . the 
: Lookout House, casinornitery, filed 
suit Friday (27) for $1.G00 cssh' 
against Ted Fio Rito, whose band is 
current in Beverly Hills, opposish 
spot. Both places aire .in Kentucky, 
across the Ohio , river from Cincy. 
Action was filed in Campbell County 
Circuit Court, Newport, Ky. ; 

Brink charges that Fio Rito agreed 
to pay him $1,600 at the rate of $100 
per week, starting July 27, last, and 
that the band, leader wrote checks to 
cover the ■ amount. 

None of the money was . paid, ac- 
cording to the suit, which claims that 
the Franklin-Washington Trust 
. Company, Newark, N. J., on which 
the checks. Were' drawn, refused to 
make payment on the ground that 
the checks were, improperly drawn. 

Beverly Hills was named gairnishee 
defendant by Brink, who .sought to 
attach any assets of. Fio Rito in the 
possession of that spot. The suit also 
Lslted that. Beverly Hills be enjpihed 
from, paying Fio Rito anything iihtil 
authorized by the court. , 
, No explanation was pfTered . as . to 
What the money was.;owe(:l for. ; 



DRUMMER NOW BONIFACE 



Gil Rutzitn as Cafe Boss. Still D(kes 
'Trick.' oh Skins 



. Milwaukee, bee. 31. 
y Gil Rutzeh, singing drumnier, who 
was with Bill Carlsen^ band until it, 
Ijrpke up following a' sumrtter at 
ELitch's Gardens -in Denver arid re- 
turned to Milwaukee for reorganiza^ 
tion, has opened a night spot . of . his 
own. It has clicked from the start, 
becbmirig the rendezvous of visiting 
musicians as well as the local crowd. 

.Jack Chapman's orchestra is an^ at- 
traction, and just lb keep f rbni.grow- 
ing stale, the tavern prOpr.ietQr fre--^ 
quentiy. jumps in and dogs. a. nurhber 
with the boys. , ' , 



Last Holdouts ^Amonif 1 40 
Publisher Members of So- 
l ciety NoiW : Committed for 
VN«xt IQ-Year Period : 



BEGIN SLEUTHING 



ASCAPites on Coast 
Vexed at Oscar Straus' 
Posy in ^arielyMo p 

Hollywood; Disc. .31. 

Lest he has forlotten, O.scar 
Straus is being gently reminded by 
a group of Coast songwriters . that it 
was their coin, or a major part of it; 
that bought his way out of Vienna 
and landed him safely, across the 
border in Switzerland when the 
Nazis were about to move in on him. 
'What . perturbed the Hollywood 
ASCAPers was a statement by 
Straus, published. . in Vabiety, that 
'my coming to this country was fa- 
cilitated by the broadcasting indus- 
try through the agency of Broadcast 
Music, InCr' 

It is recalled by L. Wolfe Gilbert, 
long the Society's spokesman on the 
Coast, that just before the. waltz 
king was .rescued from the Nazis he 
(Gilbert) had a phone call from 
Boris Morros, at the time.; visiting- 
W'ith ..a group: of Metro execs, asking 
what ASCAP would do about getting 
Straus out of 'Vienna, Gilbert acted 
speedily and within an hour had 
Gene .Buck on the phone. Next day 
Buck advised Gilbert thiait the $800 
needed to make up the $1,200 'pay- 
Off' to a Nazi official would be 
cabled on .receipt of instructions, . 

Songwriters would rather believe 
that Straus is forgetful. 



Sam Fox tried ?ill day Thursday 
(26) to get to see Gene Buck to per- 
sonally deliver . his contract renew- 
ing. . the • Sam Fox. Music Corp; with 
ASCAP, but that was the day when 
a session until nearly midnight by 
the board kept the ASCApites fdrfh- 
ulating a- statement in reply to the 
U, S. CJoverntp'eht threat of indict- 
ments under anti-trust . charges. 
However,. 'on Fridaiy. Fo?c formally 
signed up tot the lO-yea^ period, he 
being the last' holdout of the 140 
publisher-mehibers.: .:. 

On Thursday, the same day that 
the antj-ti:ust and m6not)oly chair^es 
received so much national publicity, 
out of Washington; the Metro, grpup, 
through Jack Robbins, re-signed for 
10 years with ASCAP. The 'firms are 
RobbinSj -Feist and Miller Music. 
That same day alsoi another 'film af- 
filiate,. 20th Century r-Fox's Movietone 
Music (jorpi, also renewed; This firm 
is also partially owned by Sam Fox, 
but contrpliied dPminantly. by 2bth- 
Fox. 

Edward. B. 'Marks Music Corp., of 
course, is the sole .disaffection, he 
having effected 'a five-year deal with 
Broadcast Music, Inc., at $250,000 a 
year, guaranteed by NBC and CBS 
and certain large stations. : 

'Policing' the Air 

. ASCAP's 'policing' of the kilo- 
cycles will "not become serious until 
today (1), when Contracts expire. 
Several' songsmiths with tunes in 
Marks' catalog cannot. . technically 
object to BMI-usage of their tunes 
(via the Marks acquisitipn.)' until the 
first- day of 1941, because the Marks 
license permitted peirformance 
through DeCiJSlr 

ASCAP also: has been .Intensiyely 
checking foi" alleged Copyright in- 
fringements by publicatiphs of 
ASCAI* tunes/ . 

Fox's BMI Offer 

Sam Fox had an attractive five- 
year contract all set to join BMI, at' 



Goodpian at FM. Ball 



Benny Gpodnrjan's new. band ' gets 
the .call ..this . year to play, for Presi- 
dent -Roosevelt's,' Birthday Ball at 
\yashington, D... C. . Kay KySer 
played it last year. . Date,- as usual, 
is Jan. 31. 

Pay for the hop "is flat AFM scale 
and the prestige. 



isnts 



Ti^PablishSiirbm tnnes 
Tkougli Jurmann^ 



Robbins Music; hak- served notice 
on Universal Pictures Corp; in con- 
nection with , the publication rights 
to. the Deahna DUrbih film, 'Nice 
Girl,' - with song : writers Berriie 
Grossman and Walter. "Jurmann. 

Witmark has the piib rights which 
Robbins claims undeir an exclusivity 
both with y and coin poser Jurmann, 
originally brought over- by the 
Metro-Rpbbins interests some years 
ago, from Berlin, When Bromislaw 
Kaper, who is ..still on the M-G lot, 
was also signed. 



the £ame time Edward B. Marks 
Muisie Corp. bolted ASCAP ranks. 
F;ox was to get almost $100,000 a year 
for five years from Broadcast .Music,. 
Inc., which is an even better deal 
than Marks' $250,000 annual guar- 
antee from BMI, considering the 
relative standing of both firms. 

Fox averageis only $30,000 annually 
from the Society, as against $85,000- 
$90,60() that Marks got BMI's deal 
Would have trebled Fox's income. ' 
Fox, however, wanted a 10-year 
term. BMI's deals with all princi- 
pals are for five years and Wouldn't 
go beyond that. Julian T. Abeles, 
attorney who negotiated the Marks 
ddal, also was handling the Sam Fox 
negotiations. On . the other band, 
Abeles, as attorney for the Metro- 
Robbins giroup, .was instructed by 
David Bernstein, Loew's, Inc., v.p. 
and treasurerj and head of the M-G 
m.iisic subsids, to draw up renewal 
contrcicts with ASCAP for Robbins, 
Feist and Miller. 



Shaw for N. Y. Strand 



: Artie -ShaW's new baind will beigih 
a stretch at the New York. .Strand 
:theatre sometime -in IFiebruary. It 
will be Shaw's first : appearance ih 
N. Y. since pu-iliflg. his widely pub- 
licized Walkout on. his old band more 
.than a year ago;' Leader's current 
g;r6up. comprises 22 niusicians beside 
■himselif.: and vocalist - Anita Bayer. 

Rejjorted price for the date is set 
at $10,000 the first weiek, plus' stand- 
bys as Shawns butflt is not N;. Y; :L0r 
cal 802. iShaW' is . ail ihe mom*;nt 
filling, a six week stay at the^jPal- 
ladium Ballrppm, Hollywood. ' , ■: 



Kay; Ileatherton's orchestra opened 
:an engagement at Barry's Inn, pn: 
-Albany-Scheriectady, Road, ■ ; after, 
closing pne at New KenmOre Hotel 
in Albany. This is believtfd to be the 
first time a name band vyerit into 
another Albany .spot after finishing 
at the Kenmore. . 



ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 

WEDNESDAY. JAN. 8 






of 




Advertising Forms Close Friday, Jan. 3- 
ltd Advance in Rates or Newsstand : Price of 




Many subscribers and readers buy extra copies of Variety's 

anniversary issues to be hiailed to friemls. Orders should be 

placed in advance with your newsdealer or at a«y-Vari^ty office 

NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD CHICAGO LONDON 

154 W. 46th St. 1708 N. Vine St. 54 W. Randolph St. 8 St. Martin's PI. 



Directly after David Bernstein, 
Loew's v.p. and treasurer, formally 
signed the ASCAP cpntracts renew- 
ing Rabbins, Feist and .Miller MusiO 
firms .with the Society, . Jack Rpb-. 
bins wired, the Loew-Metro official H: 
congratulatory telegram that 'YoiiH : 
only know in the futiire how much 
we have contributed to American 
musical welfare by renewing our 
three bbrri.paniei :with ASCAP.' . 

Robbins, as directing head of all 
thi-ee Metro-Robbing firms, had been 
openly pro-ASC AP even, though the 
Loew people, which, own. .51% tt 
the businesses, wei:e among the last- 
minute . hpldPuts, because i they 
wanted certain guaranties for th* 
future (among them a proviso on 
• televisiftn :rights )■ ' 
■ .Robbins and his wife left last 
night (New Year's eye ) for a month 
in' Mianii Beach, but the music pub- 
lisher and Bernstein \yorked ^out « . 
tentative ; screen - explbitatipn plan 
which may come Into being if the 
broadcasters and ASCAP , don't get 
together. It would call for three-to- 
five-minute niusical shorts, to- b« 
niade east, with quasi-name radio 
singers like Joan Edwards, Barry 
Wood, Del Casino, Joan Merrill and 
thie likCi showing each 'introducing* 
a new pop song, with the author .(tt 
composer woj^ked into it as part ot 
the presentation. .' 

The 'vocal' plug will thus be relied 
on extensively, from the screen, 
along with the usiAal extension of 
exploitation channels in vaudefllm- 
ers, cafes, etc. 

Sentimental Side 
At an Xmas eve party last week, 
hojited per custom by Jack Robbins 
to some 150 Feist, Miller and Robbins 
Music employees, the publisher paid 
tribute to 72^ycarrold Will Telle*, 
Sr.. of the Teller Sons & Doerner 
music printing firm as . -being the 
man who is responsible for me stay- 
ing in business.' Robbiijs referred to 
the unlimited. credit extended by th* 
music printery at a time when Rob-, 
bins Music Corp. Was. struggling 
(this was before the Metro merger).' 
Hoflfman, the engraver, and Kupper- 
man & Del Grecio, printery which 
does the combine's vocal and dance 
arrangcme;its, likewise wore salvoed 
for their patience. With Robbins In 
the struggling period' of his career 
as a music publisher. 



RUSS MORGAN STAYS 
EXTRA WEEK IN FRISCO 



I 



San Francisco, Dec. 31. 
• After breaking a l^ve-'ycar Christ- 
mas night record at the Palace, Russ 
. Morgan's band, was inked to stay 
i oyer , an extra (7th) week until Sat- 
;.urday 01). Rose Room then \yill 
I dlose 'fPr . th.e redecpratihg; until Jan, 
j. 16,.at .\yhich time Leo Reisman movies . 
I in for a s.i3<-week soiourn. ^ 

1 Carrpen Miranda has been booked 
to open a fortnight's engagement 
sanie night (16). • ':- 



Basie Dates Via Morris j 
[ Barnet (Clear for MCA 

I . Count Basic's p.rchestra ■ is - being 
.sMbmitted for. dates by the Wm'. Mor- 
ris .agency, though . it has not been 
signed to a managiement contract. 
Basie bought bis' release from ai Mu. 
sic - Corp. of America contract last 
week for $10,000. Thpugh the band 
is tenlati vcly under Morris, booking 
elTorl^ 4't Is still on the road com^ 
;Rleting;.d.atcs- MCA had. booked; ; '. 
Charlie Barnct finally completed 

. his swiich -from Coh.solKlatcd. Radio; 
Arli.sls. ..to. MCA last:'wcek." After,- 
wcoks of .being b6pkcd- .by the agency 
Barriel signed a booking' contrsict 
lieirig him to MCA for three years 

• with. optloh.S; ■ - . ■ ~ 



S2 



MUSIC 



Wednesday,. Janiiary 1, 1911 




VNeek endtng Dec; 28; . 1940) 



Nightingale Sanif la Berkesley Sq;^ 
We Three ; h ••• v;.'v;>v-. J,^ v ;.>,>'.'.. .V^' O ^ 

♦Down Argentina Way ('Dovvn.- Arffentinc'.Way') . ; .v. 
Eerryboiat^SGren^d^ : vy ,;;.;'!:/>,. ^ '. ^'r.^. .;. . v\ 
Trade Wlfuis >^K.-.'y;-.'. V'.;,..-! . \ 

Frenesi ; 
Tliere I.Go . .v. 

♦Ghly. Forever <'Rhythm' on the River') ... ■. . . Vi 
Last Time' I Saw . Paris. . . . . ; ... . .. . . . .■ . , ; 

•Along the Santa Fe Trail ('Santa Pe Trair) . • • 
Five O'Clocit i,Whi5tle i, .vw.;., . . /..->'. . <,; ; . /, 
I Give You. My Word . . .^^ . . . 

•,Gpd Bless Ameri.ca'i ..... . , . ; . . . . .1 

Bluebeti-y Hill . ; . . . .■; . /. . . . ; : 

■ Beiat Me Daddy- Eight "to th ..'Bui;.; ... ...... ...v. 



■.;:;'.::s-B... - '■ 
.;M-M;-.-i 

.;iv.;;. ^ Minor ; ' 

. : v.;; .Robb1ns . 
.Harms .. 

,' . -. '. ."SbUtHerh 

../■■i.BMi'.' -x; 

; , .V, ;Santily i' 
,;. , . i .Chappell . 
. . . Harms 
.; Advance 
BMI . 
. . . .Berlin-. ; 
.iChappell 
Leeds 



• Filmusical. 




Dolores Brown, : vodalist,- with-, the 
Erskine Hawkins band, married 
Marcelijis Green, trumpet^if, with 
■th« same band; last week. She'll 
irtip her lyriciirVg;.'. 'y. "' ' 



I .Joseph Szigeti. whh. whom .he 
' last -year in Garneigie Hall, New 
York. 



Johnny Lontf jswitched liis 'theriig' 
from 'Just Like . thatV to Duke . U. 
Irat song titled 'White Star of Sigma 
Nu.' . He's a Duke, graduate,; • • - 



Conht Basle, let :,6ut. teiior .iaxist- 
Lester Youtig iairid : tf Ombbnist : ■■ V i v 
Dickerson. ■. .i ^ - ' • 



Hnmberto's ' Brazilian musicians^ 
and Phil OHman's: orchestra open the 
.new MocambO; restaurant . .In Holly- 
wood Dec. 27,^ : 



■ teiniav Horne, .cblored^ Jgirl, joined 
Charley V . Barnet as, 'vocaiist last 
week. Barnet now' ha$. Hoi-ace Hen^f 
derSoh doing arrangements, - 



. /Clu.rlle^ Spiyak "Band . may stay ait 
Glen Island., Cisindv New. Rochelie, 
N.-.Y., all thrmigh ths season untii 
usual ■ spring- opening : of .summer 
stretch. . He was . originally s.kedd^d: 
for 13 weeks. - 



EuKeiie i>cirrow'4 Playboys are how 
playing in Pajm Lounge of- Hotel 
■Ten Eyck, Albany, 



Helr-ch of .Gustav Koehler, ToledOf 
band leader and musician, " ..have 
donated collection of music , to the 
Toledo Public Ijibrary, consisting of. 
■ 8,440 volumes. . ' . • . 



Rablnoiff with Soils,' .planist-aceom- 
panist, will appear in perfor- 
mances in. Lynn, Mass., Jani. -3, to 
help the 'Aid to Britain* campaign, 
proceeds to send a Tolling kitchen to 
King's Lynn^.' England. .. . 



•By' Wopdbiiry Orchestra house 
band at KDYL, Salt Lake^ did one 
pighter at Baittle- Mountain, Nevada, 
New Year's. Eve. .' 



Trocadero, \yichita, Kans;, has 
Jack Mills' orchestra for holidays. 
Also opened hew Grill, Frida^^ night, 
with Don Fortney's orchestra. 



Harry. James and Tommy Tucker 
bands booked for Police Ball, Roch- 
ester, N^ Y., Feb. 14, city's biggest 
dance event:. Bands will Play on two 
levels in Civic Exhibits Building. 



Jack jpisher, orchestra leader for 
seven years at Steuben's "Vienna 
Boom, Boston, is now manager of 
subterranean adjlinct known as. the 
i.^Cave, also night club. 



Lou Miiccl replaced Al Stiiiai-t on 
third trumpet with Bob Chester's or- 
chestra, while Bob Peck:ls."iri' oii fir'Sl 
trumpet; with Ale?! .Fila going ; to 
Benny Goodman. • 



Everett Hoa^land opens. Cleveland 
hotel, Cleveland,, p., Jan.- 23 for three 
• inpnths; .■ ."7:1 .'V ■ 



Bernle. pennett, . in charge, of - the 
relief band at Club. Mayiair,. Boston, 
nightly, conducts horse racing ihior.- 
niation -service^dayUined. 



. Marilyn . Duke, .. at ' one. time with 
Shep. Fields ahd Einile Golerhan, 
Joined (31 ).. Vaughn Mphrde's Orches- 
tra: at Hotel* Statler- Boston. ■.. 

tommy. Rellly's: band opened at 
thfe 41 Club in Hollywood. . 



Jack Teaffairdcn, Jan, i,; 'Totem 
Pole Ballroom, AuburhdaK^ Miss.^ 
four days. • . ' ■■■■■'i'. 



John. KIrby iba'nd' art4 Maxine Sul- 
livan " hopping-; off on . a . eoj-day .tour 
through Nfew Englaiia and southward 
4fon.. .23. y- - .■: y ■■■ 



Benny poodihah; .cohtirtuc)? . ■ his 
classical -eihibitiohsi at Symphony 
.Hall, :BOisio.ri',, .Fe.b. 1.. . He*.?- down to 
V'ork .this - Virnfi -. Witl; .;p,iani5t; .and 
composer Bela "Bartdfc and. violihlst 



.McFarlaiid Twins band replace? 
(jepirge Hall^ at ■ Chatterbox. Moun- 
tainside^ N; J., for lour weeks .Jan, 
.18.. Hall gpes south to Jan. 28 openr 
ing at Rqo'sevelt hotel, Jacksonville, 
Fla.;- 



Gene Krupa baiid follows Tommy 
Dorsey into Meadowbrook, Cedar 
Grove, !Nr,. J., Feb. 25, 

tranUe Tam, formerly va guitarist 
with Bobby . Hackett. has Joined 
Carmen Cavallero's -orchestra. 



Music N6ies 



Dash, Connelly, Inc„. new firm- set 
tip. by Irwin Dash in New York sincie 
he's unable to return; to Ehglaiid ber 
cause 61 the war, has become, sole 
U. S. distributor lor Britain's 
'There'll Always Be an England.' 



• Darryl Kalter in as musical direc- 
toi: lor cartoon, shorts by Walter 
Lautz at Urtiverjsal, 



; John Leipold is scoring 'Doomed 
Caravan' for Harry Sherman at'Par- 
ariiount; '.- 



. Cohstanlin Bakaliein|kofl handling 
the musical score for, 'Keeping Com- 
pany' at Metro. 



Frank Loesser and . Burton Lane 
defied 'Mary, Mary, Quite Ciontrary,' 
and 'I Gotta Ride,' to be sung iii ;Par^ 
amount's 'Las Vegas Nights.' With 
Loii. Alter as collaborator, Loesser 
also wrote 'Dolores', for the same 
picture!. 



• Enttil .Neivman finished his' scoring 
job on 'Tall> Dark and ilandsome' at 
20jh-FQx.:.' : : 



Adolph Deutsch recordirifr! his orig- 
inal score, for. 'High Sierra' at' War- 
ners.'' ' '' ■ ■ 



. Anthotiy Collins clef fing the sCOre 
for Herbert; y^ilcox-'s 'Sunny' aV 



;■ prmohd B/ ftuthveh and' Albert 
Manheimer sold. ; their - . song. 'Viva' 
La Vida,' to Metro for use in .'Billy 
tbe^Kid;' ■;•.--■■::■.,■■''."■-.■:■:■•■ ■■ 



• Rob ;Wcb:b doing score for ''A ■ (3 irl; 
a Quy and a (Sob' at .RKO, -,; - ■ 



.; Carl Itoff,. bind iieader 'on' the Al 
Perce air .program, cIc/Tdd-. ^1 . Pledge 
Allegiance to the Flag,' and' sent it 
lo his,.QhicafiO' publishers. ^, 



;.. licihz itoemheld is . composing the 
score and bacicground niiisic for "The 
Wagons: Roll at Night' at Wariiers.. 



Palm Club . (Miami) sho\v, including 
'All Hand? 'on. beckr' Vfloliday iiV 
.Heaven/ 'My. Heart Went Sailing;' 
'Coclt-a-poodlei' ■ 'Behind. My Back' 
and -'Just-, for a. .iaugh/ . . - ^ -, 



/Frederick liollahder assigned to. 
Cbmtjose. background musifi for' Wtirr 
nei-s' 'Footsteps in the Dark.?.- . - • 



Mack' Gprdo.h . and Hdri^' Wrirrcn. 
writing sortgs 'for ; 2,0lh-FoN:'s . 'The. 
Great. Amei'icariB-roadcasl.'.. 



■ CohllnuVd from pa^e 2- 

stntionst^V^tMJ; XVISNi and WI3BM, 
all siKned with BMI. ; 

,\VTMJ has bc.en using BMI .mater-, 
iai exclui-iydy on local . sho\v.'>.;slrt(!0 
Dec. .23;:als'o WlSjj, -whicU 
hour .■ early -iridrning rcqucfst' disc 
show, annburices .- eycVy • number. :;a'< 
BJMI -and aSlu! listeners t.b; ii"i!ikC ; up 

their ,0\vri - lists frbhi. these ndmbei^ 
■foi-;- niakiJig -future? .re(i uests. WERIF 
has hedn .i<sing' ..botlv BMI .' liiid 
ASCAP^ rhalerial.aod .appear.s vflluctv - 
ant, to reuiiqliiSli ASCJAP; it ii key 
statiori,lor the WBS^stalb loop,; all 
Of " whose, statipiis. are signed' .Syith 
BMI, i^jew. contracts - with -ASCAP 
, have, been s.igncd In a ii limber, of • 
cities . through -. tlie ■. stale, includiiig. 
■Marine tie, '. Superior, ; Wausau, Mani- 
towoc and. P^oynette. .. 



10 Best Seflers Oil Coni^^ 



(KecoTds bciow ;oTe prabWng most mcfccls . this weefc in juJccbbxcs . 
■ thrauflhoiif the cov^nti'v, as:rei)otted bif opetatora to Varietv. -NaThcs; ' 
of more t}tan one ;bond. or. rorcqlist after .ihe title iniicates, in ordir of - 
PQpn.in tif ii. iivHosi? recordinqs a re b*!i7ir> Pflawcd, Figures iijid ntimes in 
:/l).nVc?irfi<?.>!is i7idicn(e tlie iiiiviber of weeli vcftCh song rtns. been in tlie 
'listings .(ind yespcetwe: publisficrs.) . . ■ '. ■■ ' : -i. / 



X 06 Wiv- Argontirie Way (5 ); (Miller ) . • 



• .V " ■ 



\We^Three (5) (Mercer 

ie' (5) <Robbins)v.!L>,U..'. 



. IVliilerrs S^teihent 6n.!Arhoid: 

When;-V4he thunderbbit - iiit last 
week Nevilife iNililler. president, of the 
National Association of Broadcasters, 
immediately issued a statement 
which, in part, declared; 

: ' 'The Department, of Justice is on 

..the . fight track .in briiiging - crim4 
inal chargtis. . hgainst ASCAP. . : .. 

. but. ... ..it. is most unfortunate thcit.. 

the Departme^it appears- to have ' 

. 'confused the illegar practices of 
ASCAp witii the .perfectly Icgiti- 
mate effort of .brbadcasters. to cre- 
ate an . alternative eompetitive sup- 
ply; of. music! ..Broadcast Music,.. 
Ihci; is not . the creature of ! NBC 
.and. CBS- I.t was formed: by man.-, 
date .Of the National Association of 
Broadcasters in ;opeh convention, 
and mqi-e than; 600 stations are. the . 
.owners of , its stock and the users 
of. its music. It was aV the urging. , 
Of many of these stations and. of ' 
myself that the! networics ' cooper- . 
ated in the . formation 'of BMI, .bl 
which they toigether. . owii- 'only ' 
17,-1% of the stock. .Broadcasters ; 

■ throughout . the '. tountry set . . up . 
BMI after- they had found it 'im- 
possible, to deal , with ASCAP. oh 
any basis other than paying a tax 

. On ail programs -whether they used 
music or not. - In forming BMI, 
we had competent leigal advice and ' 
are confident that it is in no sense 
yiolatiye of the law. 

"The statement issued by the De- 
partment: of;" Justice shows, that 
the Department does not under- 
. stand the set-up- of Broadcast Mu- 
sic; Inc. This is not surprising in 
view of the fact that- the Depart- 
ment of Justice has made ho at- 
tempt to discuss this setr.up With 
broadcasters, nor' has - it pointed 
out to us any ways in \yhich '' it 
believed we were violating .the . 
law. Certainly if it' believes that ' 
broadcasters are attempting a boy- 
cott, it is completely misinformed. 
For weeks the Department oi Jus-' 
tice discus.<!ed a consent decree 
with ASCAP and, when it failed ' 
to get- one, it suddently accuses 
practically the. whole broadcasting . 
Industry, represented, in BMI, of 
criminal practices without giving 
us any opportunity ; at all for a' 
similar discussion. The reason for 
this unusual behavior, is not at all 
clear to me, and r hope' tl-tat- be-. ■ 
fore the Department carries out ite 
announced plan^ it will be willing 
to give at. lea.st as much cbnsidera-' 
tion to the broadcasters as it' has 
given to a society wtiich it has iti 
self branded as. a law violator Oyer- 
an exfended-peribd of years.' ■ 



Siffittiind .Krunigold started Scoring 
'The "Shepherd of the Hills' at Par.i 
ahio.unt.' : 



2. 

\.4;: Only Foreyer '^iji (Santly ).., , ; 
•5^ Thc^e 1 CSo. (5). (BMi);; ... . . /. 

- (l;;Freiicsi (1) ^ (Sbuthcrh).^;.^ . , . 
' 7: I Give My Word -(4) (iBiviiyU , . 

.8. Nightingale 'Saiig; (3) <S-B). ^ 

: 9:. "Two- Dreams;. Met (4) (Miilev ) . 
10. 'Dieani Valley (4) : (Feist) i\ ; . ; 



Bolj Croshy. 
Led Reisrnan- 
Geae Krupa ; , Li . 
Dick Jurgehs . . „ 

::i(;Inkspots- . ii-:. 
':' \ irdmmy. :Pbrsey; 

Inkspdts :.. . , ; ; 
i.Bihg .Crosby. ;..;v;.^ 
( Tominy "Tiicker. . 

Will Bradley..;:;..; 

[ Wobdy JHef m an. . :. . .' . 
' ' ['Artie Shaw;;.;..., ;-. 
. . I WOqdy Herman .: . 
, |. Benny. Gobdmri .. 
;fArka;velin.;. :.,, ;; 
. ; j Eddy puchiri.. . . .... 

Jack .Leonard-. ,,, 
'Glenn MiUcr .•.;';..-;;>.' : 
Saminy Kaye. , . .. ; 
Kate ;Smith. ... .. 

Jack Leonard. . . . 

(.Tommy; Dorsey . . , 
^ Eddy Duchin-;.* J... 
rijammy Kaye'. . 
!' Frankie.Maslc-r's.'. 
i WodtVy Herm,a;i... 



,;. . .Decca 
. Vicfor . 
Okeh- 
V*. ViQkeh; 

. ; ..Decca;'; 
Victor 

.Decca 
.. . . ..Decca. 

^//.-:.Dkeh 
/Col.urnbia; 

, Decca 
.'. . .^ictdr- 
.v. .'^Decca- 
.CI^ijlumb.ia 

;:;;\..okeh; 

.poluriibia : 
;/.;; .OkoK- 

v. Bluebird 
; . . :"Victoj»; 
.Cbhimbia 
Okeh. 

.■.;,;-yictor 
•;t;Qlumbi.a 

; .Victor 
, ^ . . Okeh 
.;. . .Decca 



■:;^;^^;;.T>ISKS'^;dAINrNG F AVQlt'^:,: 

- . (These recordings are directly below t/ic /(rst. 10 in pbpuliarity^^ 
inp in dc7uaVid on t/ie coin 

Last Time l Sa;\y Paris tChappell) . , . . 



Yes, My Darling Daughter (Feisty.,:, , . ,;. 

Now .1 Lay Me Down to. Dream (Ftemick), 
One t .tove (Forster-) . . . , . , . j . . . ; 

Santa Fe Trail (Harms);, .'y.- ; . ; ; . 
5;.et's Be Buddies (Chappell) , , . ■ . 



;. t.Kate ; Smith ,v. . 
( Leo RCismati 

( Dinah. JShOrt. , 
.- ' Glenn Miller; ; 
; [ Jolmny Loiig . . . . . 

. . f.Artdy Kirk".',.. ... 
. { Guy Lombardo . .. 
• |_Bbb Chester,...,; 

, ,Toriimy Dorsey. . L ,. 
Sammy Kaye. i... 
Guy Lombiardo . . 
Dick; Jurgens . . . . 
Kate Smith, ... . ... 

. [ Eddy: Duchin. . 
i Leo Reismah . . . ; : 
I Connie Bps.well. . 



. iCSolumbia - 
. . . Victor . 

. ; .'Bluebird. 
.Bluebird 
.Decca 
. , Decca;; 
. . ; Decca 
,. .Bluebird 

Victor... 
<;.:;^.-. 'Victor ■ 
...... .Decca 

J..;:,.Okeil^ 
. ;,Cdlumbia. 
.; Columbia 
.../...Victor 

-Decca 




• Jimmy Dbrsey ;band,;on short tour before coming back to New York 
to begin its radio commercial for 20-Grand ciggies, rolled up the best 
gross and attendance figures in two dates the past ;week. / ; 

Blue .Barron (Arinotx Cambridge, Md., pec..'25). Barron drew a 
mildly disappointing gross of $1,325 with an, attendaiiice. of 530 at 
prices ranging up to $5. ;\ 



Rege:ie Childs (Rainbow Gdns,. Valdameer Park, Erie, pa , Dec; 21), 
Band grossed a satisfactory $1,002 at $1 a 'head:. Childs did better two 
(days later at Rutgers .11. (New Brunswick, N. j., Deo. 27) in gross, :at 
least, getting- $1,50Q With 500 attendees at $2.50 per. 



: Jimmy Dorsey . (Lyric theatre, Bridgeport; Conn., Dec. 29). High 
flying Dorsiey. crew set best isiz mark of the season here with approxi^ 
niately *7,5.00 stub holders at five shows. Tap 55c tb 83c ran up gross : 
of $3,560, 3Cmas night In Philadelphia (Penn A. C.) band drew 2,612, 
just, short of limit for building "set by Fire. Dept. grossed $5,224; at $4. 
a couple. 



Gray Gordon (IMA Aud.; Flint, Mich., Dec. 28). Gordon's reaction 
wasn't Up tb expectations. At 90c scale Jie- drew 720 admissions.' 



Don Hughes (Fitz B., Bridgeport, Conn , Der, 25), This is old Sonny 
Burke band under new name and leader; Grossed low $5ld[ with 785 
hoppers at 65c. 



. Enoch Light (Yahnuhdasls G. C.-, New.HartfOrd, N. Y./Dec. 27). Re- 
suming , work after alniost fatal, autp crash last sunimer. Light did nice. 
$600 gross at;$4 couple or $2.50 Single, here, ' :-■ / ; . . 

.; jimmie .jLunibefprd (GSrand View -Aud, Jersey ;Gity, Dei?. :2i5). tunce* 
;lord^packed in abQUt;$2,000 at-$l a head; ■ ;,; " 



- B.lll.McCuiie: (Riti^Br. .Rottsy.iIle,;.pa.. I)ec...25)....Mc.(:une' dipped 
.average ol $640. off' local bahkioir with .approximately ist) ' iattendanca 



■ . Mcfarland Twins (Rainbow Gdiis, Valdameec .Parfe.;Erie,. PaV, Dec.' 
25). Look-alike leaders rbUhded up 7.'jCj dancers, at $2.50 per Idr $1,875.;; 
They did well, tod,; at'-Ritz. B-V Bridgeport," Conn,' (Dec./:?9)^'^^^ 
1,482- admissions.-at '75c.>. - ;• ■■ y'.- 



Don; Eaye and..Hughie Pi'lhce "^re 
)ing ; the mUsichl- score for. ^ 'Buck 
Privates' -at .'llniversal.- ' - 



Bob -Musei; .01 the N. Y..;Worid-. 
Telegram,.; and Lionel Rand ^ have 
written six songs for the new Royal 



David Sneil in scbrin.t; aiin'ospheric 
music for Mfctrq-? 'Billy the:kid'- with, 
a. :Me.xican-: orchestra. .:. 



T^aok;!. Rp1>]>In8-:-ai;id. the.. Mvsf, to 



. Vai.tiph|i Monroe (Mechanics Kail, Worcester, Mass.,' Dep, 25). Gave 
, ; promoter hot- $!,035 , gross .with' 1,592 at.dnc; At the 'Arcadia B., ProVl- 
dehce. (pec, 2(5 ), outfit got • about $900V_ei^oss; With l,80O. at; 50c.- a copy, ;. 

, Orrpn.Tuc'ker.-Bonhre':;Bak;e.r' (Wisconsin. Roof, Milwaukee, .Dec/ 2^ 
.- Tu.cker and'gal WitH' wee voice Copped. S2,30!) gross. With 3,70d,f $ome of ; . 
; Whom foi^ked up 50c adyance iind Ve^^^^^^ 



Miami B.eadi NeW; Year's eve,, sjjendr- 
i rig the hdliday en route,. Will be 
gorte three'.. weeks '. ' ;. ' " 



- BMI has accepted .'.T.VvO Fingered 
Fantasy,'" corhposed by JocirStoyaii, 
KlVtbX, St. Loiiils, musical arranger; 



, .Ms^rlie. .Frye, sopranb,' will Join the 
Tomiriy . Ddrsey;;^hd; wlien ; It^ goes 
in to Meado wbrpok, .Cedar Grove, N. 
j J.; Jan. 2L . She's ari outright ; ad- 
: 'dition bringing Dbrsey's Complement 
I up to 23 people, including hiinself , 
Seyen of 'em are singers. . Counting 
Bobby Biirn.?; . band manager;. . Jack 
j;iEgan,, Pjh., and driver of instriiment 
I truck the Dorsey; troupe reaches 26.. 



Ralph Berton's Jam Sesli 

Balph.Bilrtori, m.c...ol the recorded ; 
'.Rldtropolltan Reviewer' Swing .^pro: ; 
gram - over WNYC, tossed a 'Ja»P: 
Session and Hot Jazzi Party', at-^ihe 
-Village "Vanguard; .;(iireenwich Vil-.; 
Iage,"'..N. Y. nitery, Sunday afternoon:, 
and night (29). .''.; ? 

Nitmbcr of musiciafls welt known 
in tile j ive wdrld . attended and pe^'-- 
formed. ./•'.■..■.'/;•-■■'- 



VeclnesJay, January 1, 1941 



|s(m No Ban Mt? 



New York local 802 of. the' Ameficah Federation of Musicians, may 
. abolish, the Escrow Department it set up' more thaii ' a year ago to 
. xontroi chiselling 6t scale, rates for Its musicians working cliib dates, 
'Lt)caJ instituted . the Ideayafter numeroius single-night club bookers were- 
found •gui%..of uhderscaling. >nd placed on the AFM urif air; • rist; 
^ Escrow's: purpose was to act; as middle; man in. paying; salaries/ c 
. Ingxash from bookers .and. in: turn' involved; ■ 

. HoWeyer,. the Jocal discovered the value , of the idea was npt comh 
jmensui:ate with theVkicks stemming Irpm- . the niethod of paying off 
; because chiselling . Was. going on any way via, kickbacks after salaries 
: ; were collfetled.v Gprriplaints are b^se4"oh^the fact that .^aqh m.usician- 
Was or. is required to wait .a day or two . before being able to collect 
' through the local and. then were paid .by . chec^ most fQund dif- 

■ ficult.to' 'cash imntediately; ' . . 



S9 




"■'/■ '-■ Detr.olt/ Peci/:3i; '\ 
The rieceht ruling by NBC that all 

Its network band. programs will orig- 
inate .in New; York and Chicago js 
-. going to knock the props tight out . 

from under the bahdSr according- to 

'the concensus here. Cities like De- 
troit ho longei: will .be able to offer 

one of thiir biggest 'ihducem^hts to 

.ambitious maestros, they can't raise 

the ante above Avhat they, have bqeii 

paying . and; there' is .-. con.slderable 

doubt Whether-the big bands, which; 

■ frequently, had written ..' into . their 

out-of-toWn contracts clauses eh air 

■. time, will .b.e. willing to. leave the two; 

production centers. /; 

... The netwQi:k;;i'ecently made the; 

ruling to supei'viSe the music, played 

to prevent any jieadaches on the use 

of ASGAP . tunes in the band .airings, 

However, here it is felt: .that the rul-i' 

Ing is going to be h.rutar on the band 

situation,- khocking many • out: of air^ 

spots - since only . a f eAv will be able^ 

to get onto, tiie;; air in the two pro- 
duction centers' and will :keeR up-- 

-and-coming orcheStreK from building 

personal fpUoWingW out in 'the sticks,' 
DiffiQulties in booking name bands 

Into Detroit - have Jjeeh f Bit already.; 

Several outfits have shunned con- 
tracts here which they formerly 

grabbed willingly, indicating, .that 

they didn't \yant to.. |Jull otit 'from 
. New York and Chicago even if the 

scramble for time amOng ; the. or-; 
. chestras threatens to becoine a cat- 
: and-dog; affair in the two centers. ; : 

> P"®, :*actors^on the. credit; Beechnut Packing Co. has bought 

.<side of.the books for hoterand. other an hour and a half daily, six days 
spots.^jn Detroit was. that they were la week ; WI^EW; New York's 
. able to offer bands they brought in 



PAUL WHITEMAN SUES 



Paul Whiieman- has .filed suit: \ 
the; N.. Y.- .'supreme court against | 
Abraham A. Drelihger, former; musi- , 
tiah in his empilpyr and Jacob RO.<!eh- 
, bef g,. president of.' the Amefican Fed- 
eration of .Musicians,- Lofjal ^802; seek- 
ing the -Recovery , of 058.' .VVhitenian 
has sectired i'^ei'.mission of the uii-. 
. ion to siie.' and': . has deposited the 
.amount sued for; with' Local 802. 

On March 21, 1538, Whiitemah em- j 
ployed Di-elinger- oh . a. thi:ee year ; 
contract starting -March 20, 1938 and' ' 
.running; out: the same, date in 1941-. 
On. July . 24i .. 1939 the; contract -vyas. 
cancelled by' mutuai.ag^eement; Sub- 
sequently. Drelinger filed a claim for 
$885 r'ii'ith ■ the AFMj which jgranted- 
him '$758.-:;,... ;■■.:..;; 

Whiteman believes that the settle- 
ment of. the contract In July,.. 1939.; 
eliminated iiny possible claim for 
money-, . land, since the : AFM threat- 
ened him with .expulsion if ; he dicj 
not pay; reqllestedi permission :tb tike", 
.the.'matter to court This was gi^nt- 
ed if ; he deposited the. $758\jn- ad- 
vance. The coriductoi" seeks a coui t 
ruling ■ that he does riot -owe the 
musician anything, and .that ;L6cal 
802 ought tO' turn' babk the rhoney to 
him/ ' ■• " .•'•;.i 




ame 




ID 








or Better 



DOROTHY CLAIRE'S WALK 



Si$Mi - Novi li . with . Byi-he-^Sloiy 
. :Quliji. for .Qlenn , Miller 




Sammy Kaye; Jah, 24^26, Metro- 
politan theatreV ProvidencejR',. I.; 



For tiKkyV Camp I^^^^ 

. Lucky .strike is committed -for 13 
Saturday .. nfght ; caritonineht ./shpW.s 
;and 'Music. Corp. of Ainericia has 
meanwhile .discpvered. ■ that: the. cost 
of thiese units" Will be: far .abpye what 
:it: had qiioted the account. All the 
barids : approached are asking the 
usual top one-riightef price, pointing 
out that the date is of a Saturday,: 

a_ <iain^e orchestra garriers;!..jan- gi;. U; ^f 'Maryland, Baltimore; 
around 40% of their .week s income^ 
In ..addition to entertaining, at. the 
camp the; band ::wilL. be:. cut into -the 
cig's regular ;/Hit jPai-ade projgram 
over CBS. ^ •. ,:'^.V;-; 

Series starts. Jan. 11 \ with Eddie 
puchin at Fort Myers, Vai- . Rest of 
the . cantonment bpokihgs made so 
far are Jan'. '18^. Tommy Dorsey, 
Marine Base at Quaritico, Va ; Jan. 
25,'Cliarlie Barhet, Gamp Dix, .N. J.;. 
Feb. 1, Tomihy Tucker, submarine 
base at Newpprt, .R; I.; Feb. 8, Jack. 
Teagarden, Camp Devins, N. . Y., and 
Sammy Kaye, , Annajpvlis, - Naval 
training scfjopl. :-. . 



' Dorothy Claire, . vocalist; with the- > 
Bobby pyrrie brch.estra. • has" /served ; 
notice on. Byrn'e that slie . will leave 
his band Jan;..5. .tb.vta'ke pver' M j 
.Huttpn's . .vacateol: spot With Glenn., 
Miller. In ' making th.e move- Miss I 
GloLire is tlisregarding .a thre.e-year J 
contract- she signed with: the Byrhe j 
band, .last' Nbv.^ 11.; In .'order' to - get 
her,:Miller reppi'tedly made a salary] 
offer: just .about double what .Byrfle^- 
was payi.ng.fpr her seryiceis.- . "^^ ,;",| 
; Miller hail, been dickering witii 
Miss- Glaire .'and had sppken to Dee ' 
keating/vpcaliSt. witit the. A1 Dona- ; 
hue band,'about taking-Miss Huttpn's I 
place.t . Syrhe'S'/manage: .had .asked 
?5,00O of .: Miller - for Misa Cla ire's 



I 

contract, .which is, supposed;- to have j 
been ignored. Donahue's group Avais ' 
ready to ask a similar price, though i 
n.6 . represehtative .; from, the Miller ' 
side .contacted bbnahue directly; Ne- 
gotiations b.etween Miss . Keating arid 
Miller; were 'carried out :by phO|n^e 
-without Donahue's knowledge. ' -•. 
...;Byrrie's band, is currently, at^ Frank 
Dailey's Meadowbropk, Cedar Grove, : 
N. ..j-i; where the. contract between j 
the- barid -'and- the spot; calls- for. Miss j 
Claire...- ; Miller is at ".the; Perinsyl- 
;.vapia;hotei, 'N. ;Yi; ■' ■ ■ ■ . ' 



BEECHNUT'S PART 
OFfNEWOlSCSHOW 



six shots a -week on the air, some 
times for 'a. half hour and usually 
With three of the six programs going 
out over the nationwide set-ups. All 
this, is' oiit after Jan. 1, 

The . "rerrace ; Case ... . 
Typical example here is the Ter- 
race Room'" in r the Hotel; Statler 
where Enric Madrigiiera-is roiindirig 
out a\ long stay. He got .six shots a 
W.eek at air time over WWJ sofne 
for a. half hour and' three of the 
weekly broadcasts going o^fe^ the 
NBC ' chain. 'Those network shots 
and the regularity,.: of broadcasts 
(nightly ll p. m. in this case) were 
felt to be extremely valuablife- to 
barids. Not only in ' building them 
locally, keeping . them on ' the wide 
setrups but in boosting recordings, 
etc. ' 

The band pulls doWn approximate- 
ly $2,500 .a week. There's no profit 
. iii ;it for the Terrace Room. ; How- 
ever,- the- hotel is willing to tag along .! 
without a profit with name :bands in 
;pne room, figuring ;.Tt has advertis- 
ing lyaUie'; However, hOtel.s arid other 
, spots.: ^dbrt't fee^ .able, to booist- t 
. offers above thie present figures arid 
■ take- a :lbss. • '.■■■ .- ; -.; - ■ .■ 



'Dance; Parade:'. Starting last liight. 
(Tuesday), sponsor, underwriting 
the 10:30-riiidnight : pejriod Monday, 
through Saturday . usirig recorded 
music . and news bulletins! Contract 
is for a solid , year. : . .. 

Instead, pf . using only iS-miriute 
segments of popular band waxings 
as hiost spon.sored record, shows, do. 
Beechnut, is airing 30-niinutes of one 
outfit: or three groups each night 



Pol Brissettc plays the Greek- 
British Relief Ball, Mechanics Bldg., 
ostonj.jart; 3. ' ': ,.'; 



Feb. 7, - week, Ejrle theatre, Phila- ■ 
deiphiS, -;;:■:;■ ,-. --.'//'^^''r ' ^^ ■■■■■■ - , i- 
.: Gene Kriupa ■ Feb. ^S. 'fpur week.s, ;• 
Meadowbropk, - Cetdar GrOve, % J. . | 
Rayrriond .Scott, . Jan. l6,-- ..week; j 
Lyric theatre, Indianapplis, Ind. '1 

. Tommy Dorsey, Feb. 21, Muehieh- j 
berg ■ College,: AllentOwn, Pa.;^ 28, ' 
P'ehri State C;, State .College, 'Pa. ; 

. Benny Goodman, Jan. 9-11, Capital 
theatre, Harrisburg; , Pa.; 12, Ma- 
sonic -hop, Rochester, Pa 

Raymond .Scott, 
theatre, Kenosha,; 
theatre, Indiariapolis; 17, U. of Ill- 
inois, Champaign, IlL; 18, 'U.. of Wis- 
consin. iMadisori; 19, theatre,- Green 
Bay, Wisconsin; 22, theatre, Main- 
towoc, . Wis-; 24-25, theatre, Ann 
Arbor, Michigari; ' 26-28, . Jackson 



BMI WILL PUBLISH 
WITH THE HEAT 



. Broadcast Music -will ; publish the ! 
entire score of 'Crazy With the .fleaiti' i 
I legit musical riow -in; : Boston and'; 
slated, to open iri ; New York Jan. l'4. 1 
( Irving -Graham did- the lyrics and 
: niu.sic. -- V'- '; 
j BMI .alsp has songs. In 'All in Fun' 
■ i and 'Hejlzapoppiri.' 'Fun' clpsed in 
Jan. . 8, Keno.sha three days pp. Broadway. 
Wis.; 10, Lyric I '.:.'.; '■ . ' '■ ''■■■' . - ' ; ■ 

New Fii-m'. New Title 

Albany, Dec. 31.^ 
• . Pan-American Music Corp.i .;^e- 
cently :chartered.by the Secretary pf 
State, has' changed its name to 
:'Liitin-:Am6ricatt Music :Corp, 

Gilbert i Gilbert, of New Yorkj 



theatre, Jackson, Mich.; 29-Feb. 1, 

|!^?^*r^''^^'^^'?';U^!^ ffi;^^ i«re the filing attorneys, 
tre, Grand-Rapids, Mich.; 6-8, th.eatre.:| .. * ■ ■ ■ 

Sagii^j^^ Mich-; 9-W -Francis Gilbert explained that the 

Creek, Michigan, ... . j jag- was picked after it.was dis- 

: 'Jiri:imie LUnceford, Feb. ,1. U.. of . covered- that Southern Music Co: had 
Noirth Carolina, Chapel Hill:, 3. a subsid with the words 'Pan-Amer- 
Berievolent Temple, Greenville, S. C; ;:ican -Music' in the firm nainie. Gil- 
4, Aud., Kno.xville, Tenn.; 5, Dixie- ' bgrt still refuses, to disclose who the 
land B., ; Lexington. Ky.; 6; Vanity I principles are iri his own incorpora- 
Fair,.Hurifington, W. Va.; 7, Warden's, tioh,' ' , ' ' 

Rink, Beckley. W! Va.; 8. A'rmorv. - ^ -• ■ - ' ■ ■ 

Charleston. ;; W. Va.;,' 9;" Cry.-stal ; 
Caverns, Strau.sberg, Va.; 10, Aud., 1 
Bluefield, W, .Va.; 11, Capitbl.'theatre, ; 
Wheeling, W. Va.; 12, Duquesne I 
Gardens,. Pittsburgh; 13, : Aud.... 
■ToledQ; 14. Aud.. Daytpri; 15, U. of 
Kentucky, Lexington. 



Problems .pf lii)ng: sleepiless ; juinps, 
expensive; ^fanspQrtatioiT.-.' -arra^^ 
mente and iiiusi^ hunr 
dred and. one <letails that arise to 
plague the life of the a;verage .barid^' 
leader- arid his; attenipt. to build •; 
barikrbU . • from : the band b usinesi, .; 
don't, .worry joe Mack, local : Boston: • 
leader.. - He ciitS' hiri-iself a -weekly 
slice pjf betweeri-^ $800-$l.'000 in pier"-' ' 
deritages frprri six- nights ;a • weeli, o.f 
Work witbout the; bother of any of" 
the -above- worries. - 

Mack follows a week-inrand'-week- . 
Out itinerary which, cavers four b.iSU- '; 
tiyuns in ;and:aro.und Bbstpn., using no 
arrangements, music stands, etc. All .' 
he does is show, up at the desi.<inated ;: 
dariceries each evening .with :r, crew ' 
Of il pieces beside him.sf.lf. But the 
band has such a: fpllpwing that it: 
plays to an average ..weekly total ;Of. 
6,200 ; patrons' .rarigirig frorrr-ybupj!^ 
iters-; to 60 to 7b-year-olds.. .. .Outfit; 
plays a flock of old-established tiines 
niixed with new ones all of which 
.are memorized first, at rehearsal and 
thereafter never -• varied .- ini: intepreV : 
tatipirti or teitipo.. Every- third num- 
ber IS ii'waltz. '; .:;:■ ';';' 
■ . Mack . is ibput - 50: years old, ; 'and ■ 
has- : been jilaying, his circuit; foi' - 
some - eight . 'yeai's.::. - 0^ 
Wedriesday-T.hiXrsday " he's / at;-' the .. 
Rpselahd-State r Balirpprri, • ' Bosiori; 
Tuesday, Roselarid 'Ballropm, ;Taun7 
tori; F/iday,:' Cpriimodpre Ballrobm .at : 
iiowell; Baturday,..Coriv.eiTtibn . Hall; 
B(o,slon, Prices, are set iri • ajl .spots ^ 
arid; riever vary .from 306 for ladies,. 
.40c .for men'. His outi^t is coiriposed' -. 
pt'three sax, xylophone, .tAvo. accpr- 
dions,; one trotnbprie; - banjo, ba:."^e,- ' 
druriis; piano, arid the leader on fid^ 

die;" ■ --^ 

. Attitude of..- various baridjeadet.s 
who have visited him is- exemplified, 
by the Crack, of; one, well-known jive 
maestro. ', Afte.i: ..standing arourid 
watching : the ; dancing he .walked' 
over to Mapit and exclaiitied, 'Hello, 
Joe. : J cariie for a laugh, . biit I siee 
1,000. .people. You're working and 
I'm. not,, so .1 'giiess the laugh's on 
me.''^.-" 



Pepitoiie Tops: New Orleans 
■ New Orleans, Dec; 31. 
Giacomo Pe^itone : was' re-elected 
president pf the . Musicians' Protec-. 
tiYe;uriiOri; Local 'No;. 174,. affiliated 
with vAFL,; Thursday f26). .;Other 
Officers .iliected were Charles Hart* 
manri, . vice-presidenij,; Robert:. Agiii- 
lera, recording seerietaiy; , Ralph VL, 
Ghabao, flharicial. isecretary; Sal Cas- 
tigliolav sergearitTatrarm.s. 
■ ',Anthony Alm.ericb, :Ei.. - G.. , Ger« ; 
brecht; -Ed Fontana, Leo Brocfchoveri 
aiid Jean; Paquay, a.i'e members of . 
the board of directors. 





Pefrillo For 



. '; Philadelphiav Dec, .31, ; 

lipcal :77, -American Federatibn of 
Mu!?icians, on Friday (27 ) pas.sed a; 
resolutiori thanking James C: Petrillb, 
national ' prexy.: fpr hl.s action in 
breaking up the. 'Breakfast Cliib' 
t>.road(iast on NBC. r 

;Washup ;o'f the . prbgr^hi brought 
about; the setting- up -^pf a - similar 
broadcast ori . the; Quaker :Network 
ftpm; WFIL, bankrolled -by: General 
Baking Go,-; which sponsored, the 
-Breakfast Club break-in plugs -here. 
The-, new show features i 15-pjece. 
band, which gave nearly ;a dozen un- 
employed musicians jobs".. .The show 
had its initial .shot over the ISrsta- 
.;tion hookup yesterday (Mon.^.:. 



David ; Buttolph started- scoring 
.'Western Union' at ; 20th-F63i. . . ; 



Desiiite his brother Bing being ari ASCAP; member. Bob Crosby's newest 
nu'niber, -'You're a, Double Lovely,' \ivritten in cbilaboratiori with: Roc Hill- 
;mari, has been i)Ublished by IbmI;: ; Bandleader :al.so had several : others 
-published - by .the. sariie firrn. Brother Bing previpusly Stated he'll, neycr j 
'sing a BMl number on the air. ■;' v' ' ';;-, . . / '-, '- | 

Sa'riie. situation also iapplies^to- a femnie Bto sbrigwriter, Joan '^hitney, ;; 
M*bse real nairie lis Zbe Parepteau. .OniB-time. ypcalist with ;Eriric Madri- ; 
guera's br^chestra, - ZOel ParenteaU, .'.is' her father, a ■ merTib(^' ; of ASC^APx ! 
With her cbljaboratdrs,' Hy .Zaret. arid; Alex Kranner,. she has p.rie of BJ/fr-s : 
cutren't top 'sellers -to her credit.';'Sd YouYe the One,' She's al.sb cleffed.-l 
■''High:bri.:a Wiridy.;Hiir-Bndv)S.n . ;'.- ■'; :■ ■^-;' 'j 

pecuUa'" coincideric.e came ;tci , light recent}y ' with the returri ; of •. the 
TpmmyV DOrsey" band from the^ ;Goast.- jiminy ;iBlake, ; Dorsey trumpeter, 
who ;;was- h,P$pitalized in the -east .whert ; the b.arid went west;, last Sejjtem- j 
ber,. later drbve {(croiSs the. country to rejoin: the outfit at the .Palladium 
Ballropmi. Hollywopd. He lefVNew'\>rk S.aturday, .Oct. 8, ?t I p, m;. and ' 
at'th'eisame 'hpar; . three days^ later -crashed iritb ano'ther car outside .Jeffer- 

■son-Gity,:iS40'-,' .■ ^''- :'■;-■.■■".:■• ■;;; ■''Vl,- .■.'■:';■''..'-'■.-■'.■''■' - "-.;-! 

. it turned but the other -car was being: driven by. Mrs; -Guy, wrife of One 
of the truriipet r).layerV 'n *^ay Kyser's 'band who w'a.s-.driyjrtg east.;- She:| 
had left-Lbs Angeles the, sa,ine" day .that Blaice hadv.left New.'Tfpr.k. .; ; 

Y^hile John Kirby and . hi;s orchestra played Brunswick hotel, ;Bo.stpn,-: 
uriit was denied' local iair time because radio station: that -tisua;lly\caTij6s 
spot;s - barid^i" has strict, rule that bands! iriust-^have : 10 or more men to | 
broadcast .Station riianiager, had riever; heard of ;kirby or ;his :CBS broad- -. 
casts that have won praise from "VaIiipty and ;pther irnUsic critics; -.^^ cQiir I 
cliisipn, of kirby's;; engagement; • hotel's.' press agent mailed literature - ; 
barid with; clipping to/ sl'atioh: manage^^ - ■ - - . , . .V ;. .; 

How seriously 'at least three of ASC.(^P's directors regard the break with 
the networks indicated by the circdmstance that Lo'viiis : Bernstein, Saul r 
BprnstiEiri and Irving Caesar have gone" on their regular winter vacaticins. f 
Two of tbem, Bernstein arid Caesar, are in Florida; while; Bornsteln- went ' 
on a cruise, -But Bernstein is di»e bapk Monjday (6). ' ;' 




^^^^ 



A fa««f (eirar fr«m eoosT-to <oas^H 
Mdc K^»f, Cho*l« K««fly, Joe ^» 



m 



m 



1 

m 




lyric i>y Mcwk Gordon Mu»ic by Harry W«rr«o 




34 MUSIC 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 





• > ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ V » ♦ > r: » i »» >> ♦♦ » »♦ > ♦ ♦> ♦ • ♦ 

Benny Goodm^i^ 'Maii .1 Xove'— -'Benny Rides A^ain' (Columbia SSOOl) . 

First . bit . a ;W series ••or IZ^ihch plalters;: 'Man I Lbvi?' and its ac- 
companying originaly reveals a new Goodman -group eyery^ as c;?lJJ*bT[e 
as the old. :0ut5tandlng points of the -work on the .standard, oyier- and 
above, the band's exc.elient precision work in .ensemble and the taste -and 
plass' of tiie arrangement^ is Helen Forrest's vocal and a .trUn>p0t solo. 
Latter is: shihing exarnple of tone and style. iGopdmah's clariM is suty 
ordinated in thtf. cleverly wi-itten . arrangement,; Hbwev^er;^ t a 
faintly familiat inelddy. theme., gives .his instrument wide . oppbrturiities.; 
His solos and the background for them aire groat. As an .originar it's highly 
effective, with hail the hard: drivihg once thought nieces^^r^^ ' 



Nd ASCAP Truco 



~ CoilUnued troin pase. 10^ 



Tbmihy Dorsey 'Swing HJgrh'-r-'Swins Tlmig In Harlen^ (Victor 2724?) 
Thumiieter Ziggy Elman gets billing on the fiirst side Ipr an eJccellerit 
trumpet sbib. Piece is a^ iast. original^ fJlayed- in a sizzling groove all th6 
way. It's strictly for 6ats. .Uheven , tempo is its only weakness. Clarinet^and. 
sax 50lds| each slick,; supplerrteht . the Elman horn in : Reverse is 

cooler jiVcv well played, ahd treated tb more trumpiet,. sax and piano', solos. 
Connie Haines' 'vocal has, a Wegrbid tinge., Tunes:^^a^^ in that Dorr 

sey's trombone is absent trbril. various solos, . .. , .■. 



Charlie isarnet 'Scrub Me Mama'i-i'Gan't Bemember* (Blaebird .10975) 
Barnet has been fairly cbrisisteht bf late',, but 'Scrub Me Mama with a 
Boogie Beat' is a stumble. It's a, confusing arrangement in boogie-woogie 
style; Most of the boogie' beat is . covered by the distribution of the brass 
and sax parts,- .making the Side niuch less attractive.- • Ford teary's -vbeal 
isn't, particularly- tjiitstandirtg. Reverse is\ better; ' a ballad,, it's; played 
smoothly and at iood tempo. Bob Carroll ybcals; ^ .'. „. . '^. 



Toinmy .Tuclier 'Because of iron'—'Stars. Over Campus' (Okeb 5899) 
•Because of You' is. one of. the beist things Tuckeir has eiVei:. done in any 
temj)b or style. Band has been clicking of late, with such novelties as 'Seven 
Beers with thi Wrong Woman*, - but . bbth bf. these - sides , are unusually 
good ballads: 'Because', is best-.the .itrahgenient. smoothly using electric 
guitar, miitied brass ?iiid saxes, with clarinet lead. It's partipulariy good 
behind Don Brown's heat vbcal. Reverse is similarly handled. Votal by 
Brown and^Amy .ArrieU, howcve.r, is partiaill^^^ occasional band 

chorus accbmpkniment. 



Johiiiiy liiOng 'Yes, My Darling DanghterWjohnny Peddler' (Decca 356Q) 
Bands and singers are\hopping,oh. this tune. So far Long's is the best 
orchestral try, though the .most able recording of it is still one cut by 
vocalist .Dinah Shore on Bluebird ,(l()920).- Long's version is more, likable 
than Glenn Milier!s (Bluebird 10970), being better arranged and at a good 
beat whereas Miller*;? is in too fast a tempo. Vocal by Helen Young . on 
Long's record is given more; chance by the slower speed. Playing- is full. 
Reverse .'-Peddler' isn*t as strong. It's vocalized by Miss Young and Paul 
Harmon., He*s a bit weak. Arrangement is averag«. 



Dnke Ellington 'Never Felt This Way'-VAU Too Sooh' (Vktor 27247) 
Ellington packs a slow paced; wallop oh both sides. Played in extremely 
•}ow tempo the first tune is brimfuU of appeal by virtue of the. solid tone 
color in ensemble and the strong sax and trombone breaks; Ellington and 
AI DUbin, an unusual combination, collaborated oni the smart melody. Herb 
Jeffries vocals. Reverse is equally effective, along the same lines- in tempo 
and playing. Solos are same except; trombone is' biuted. Both are flhe 
exainpiles of -Ellington. 

Claude Thornhlll ^Lejgend of Old California'— 'Love of My Life' (Okeh SSOl) 
It*s hard to -flgure what Thornhill's new band Is striving for here.. Either 
the leadier is trying to liihit the- band in its enibiryo stage or he's trying to 
build a new singer. First side is all vocaL by Dick tiarding; se|Cohd is half 
vocal. When it finally gets a . chance the .band shows none too smartly. 
Blending of instruments by the arrangements is not at all attractive and 
the playing ;.could have been much cleaner. Harding*s vocals are not strong 
enough to, carry three ,quarters . of both sides alone. He's often guilty of 
poor diction. 



^ Dinah Shore 'My Man'— 'Somebody Love^ Me' (Bluebird 10978) 

Miss Shore's version of Man* is in the style and tempo called for by the 
sentiment of the lyrics. She interprets the lyric in the manner it orig- 
inally was. done and does it in real tear pulling style. 'Tune is a push- 
over for her ability. A side with sock possibilities it's equal to anythingf 
she has done in the past. Coupling is nice contrast via the lifting tempo 
■ in which it's done. 



Ben Bernle 'Pierre of Saskatchewan'— "That's Toiir Umbrella' (Oheh 5889) 
Bemie's band sounds okay on both sides, but neither tune is pairticularly 
strong material. Bailey Sisters do the long vocal on the 'Pierre* side. 
'Umbrella' is at a brisk tempo, strong enough to have garnered okay reac- 
tion without vocal help of the Baileys^, 



agreement is ' uniawful, so . thiat;,if 
they (the networks) did accep,t siich 
a 'contract : they might find thetn- 
selves in viblatipn pf t^ie jaw; ASCAP 
tags this line of approach' to the is^e 
as 'just another form of , network 
seif-ratibnalization.? It , was ;also 
■pointed , out that if it - iS' illegal to. 
sign art ASGAP contract then it is 
certainly tb, go . On with a BMI xibn- 
tracti ' since Arnold has , jikelihopd 
termed BMI to ;be. in Violation of the : 
'laW.,.--^. :■-■;-; ; ■ _ ':. 

About Supreme Court 
■ At a m'eetihg . bi the ASCAp. board 
of directors it was voted / that ho 
aQtipni be taken on the consent de- 
'cree offered jt by Arnold until the 
U. S. supremie court had! passed on, 
the Florida atjd Nebraska cases. 'The 
board spent, the entire afternoon dis? 
cussing the legal ;phases of the pres- 
ent, crisis and how they were- to be 
jTiei, The board ■ -was infornied. /thiat 
there Avks eyery .indicatiori ,,that 
Arhbld \vbuld get his indictments in 
Wisconsin by the second week of 
January, but that there was much 
doubt whether the Government 
would move, with any dispatch in 
trying . the case, .iall .of which . cb.uld 
be expected to . help \hamper any 
■negotiations . with the networks for 
a' seittlemerit. • 

. Music industry; itself, '■ appieared 
yesterday .r (Tuesday) to; haVe thor- 
oughly reconciled: itself to the in- 
dictments. In' fact, some of. the im-^ 
■ portant figures 'aniong i jvri f erg and 
publishers, expressed themselves as 
welcoming the court actions, since it 
, would remove,,.; the sword that .has 
; been hanging over their heads as far 
as ASGAP is cpncerhfed for years 
and at the same time allow thehi to 
go to bat on the actual issues in- 
volved. "This industry also expresses 
itself as. reconciled to a deal already 
having been tentatively ■worked put 
between the •" Government depart- 
ment ahd the networks whereby the, 
latter and Broadcast MusiO, Inc., will 
enter into a consent decree which 
will sufficiently cleair .the la tier's 
skirts as to toss the burden of guilt- 
disproving into the laps of ASCAP. 

It is reported that Jan; 6 is the date 
for the filing of the. Government's 
anti-trust suit against ASCAP, BMI, 
CBS and NBC in Milwaukee. Wis- 
consin. It is stated it will be a crim- 
inal, rather than a civil proceeding; 
based on the so-called 'tobacco trust' 
proceedings, a previbus , U. S.- anti-: 
trust prosecution. 

If the report bf a- criminal action 
is correct, that would preclude any, 
consent, under the statutes.. This 
would kayo any. possibility of BMl 
and the networks agreeing to a con- 
sent, arid thus leave the Society to 
fight it, since ASCIAP had only re- 
cently balked, at a consent decree. 

Sidney M. Kaye, v.p. and legal 
counsel for BMI, made a hurried visit 
to Washington the latter part of last 
week tb ascertain Broadcast Music, 
Inc.'s position in the suit, and iS re- 
ported to have; huddled with Dept.. of 
Justice officials. 

BMI. is frankly; displeased with 
having been joined as a cO.-defendant, 
as are the broadcasters, the idea 



Teddy Powell 'Can't Rah You Out My Eyes'— 'Sad, But True' 
(Bluebird 10974) 

Powell's new band waxes okay: This is it's first Bluebird recording oh ,a 
new contriact. First tune is one by the leader hihiSelf, i(t ballad, with excel- 
lent possibilities thoiigh it's not piresenfed here as Well as it might have 
been. Tune is ariianged as a vocal almost/all the way using Ruth Gayiord 
and the "reddy . Bears. Girl is a bit weak in spots. Sax solo keepis the outfit 
in the backgi-pund after.; she's' through. Re^ is the 'band*s inning. It 
shoWs up as a well balanced and capable group! Jimmy Bklir*^s vocal, and 
a"trumpet sblo .interrupt the einsembl^^ 



Alvlno Rey 'Row Your Boat'-'St. Louis (Bluebird 10948) 

Alvjno Key's new -band impresses very favorably oh its.; firist two sides. 
It corhes- off wax as a well rpuhde^ and rehearsed, group. ;6utfit tackles 
the first of these two in ehergetic fashion. Kicking out" in strong and 
smooth tempo, it rolls, through 'iRow' splidly. 'it's, a gopd jpb.. Intention 
bf the. .coupling seems to be- to Icid ponderbiis arraingeh>ents of the standard. 
Starting in legit fashion it widens: tb a corn angle via electric guitar, break. 
Latter instrument : is sock pn, bbth. sides; . v^^^^^^ 



Frankle >|bsters ari My Uncle' (Okeh 5846) : : 

'Down in Toy land yillage',spunds likie it was recorded, directly from 
a cartoon : sound track! . It's about th6; nicest thing Masters lias' dohe to 
date^ It has a crisp, and lilting quality in its playing; Whole idea is helped 
considerably ;,by Masters and the Masters Voices treatment ,;x}l. th vocal, 
■iriltjie'. is an average spinner, :nbt much In the way of tune or treatment. 

Woody Herman 'Golden Wedding'-r'Five b^Clock W|tiistle' (Decca 3436) 
Opera is the basis . fpr 'Wedding.' It's an unusual; piece combining 
iomie very good points with uhattr^ictive.One^. ' y^^^ it rrioyes, it rides at 
'ai; sock level, but the drUnS breaks provide too many lulls. Drum solos; no 
matter how good, a.nd these are flnje, depend more pn visual appreciation. 
Coming off, a record they losie too niuch sippeal. However; the side should 
get response because it's, differeht.' Clarinet and trumpet stand out. 
'Wiiistle' is a bit late in release.-- It ranks with any of the preceding, ver-' 
sions ihstrumentaiily,: the arrangement ; and .playing imparting a lift and 
floao that freshens the tube. Herman's sad solo is neat. iDillagene vocals. 



Olivier-Leigh 

^Continued from pase 



grumbling in London . about , actors 
who /gallantly defend their country 
from . behind American footlights' 
seems tb have recently died down. . 

Olivier's; and Miss; Lieigh's: ;stater 
ments as they left from Jersey Glity 
oh the S. S- Excambio'n for LLsbon 
added little in the way of. explana- 
tion. Miss Leigh said: 'I know Lph- 
dpn is ' not the safest P|lace : " the 
world right .'how, but it is still ' my 
home and that!s\ where 1 want to be". 
I may feturn when the war is over.' 
- Olivier said that he ,TVould offer his 
services^to Brltiish officials 'for,; whiat- 
ever they think I can do'.'- Miss Leigh 
also said.; she will take, up war work. 
Dayid Niven, Richard- Green and 
Jbhri, Farrow are others who have 
left Hollywood- to help; defend their 
hbmelahd. First twb are. in England 
ahd Farrow is in the, Cahadiari haval 
informatio)! service. ' . 

., ;Dlrector Leslie Fentpri likewise re- 
turned tp his hative England; some 
months' ago and: is waiting for his 
wife, ;Ann Dv(Drak,.-to follow. .She 
attehipted tb acpomiiahy him but has 
passport trouble- Which ;she is now 
endeaybring to. straighten put,. She's 
currently- on a yaudfe: tpur with Ed- 
mund LoWe. She. and Fentbn have 
just held a number published, by 
BMI. Tagged 'Remember Paris,^ it's a 
counterpart, pf ■ Jerome .Kerh'a. arid 
Oscar Hamjijerstein ^d's 'The- Last 
Time I Saw Paris.'; iFentOn did the 
lyrics arid' Miss Dvorak the miisic. 




at 





. (PresiiiXeii . herfiw^^ tabulation, . ; the estinitited ■ 

charge: business, beinj; done by nonie bATids in Marious Neiv York hoteisT 
Dinner .bMSiniiss P^^ narhe Qj hotel give' 

roorh capacity .q7id cover ,chaf{7e, ■ LoTffcr amount designaies weekend and 
holiday pf ice:) ■ ;^ ••;,-.•,,-••,;',';, v , \ \ - , ; , . ' 

. . Total ■ 
.' Cover* . 
On Dale 

6,25(j 
16;425 
15.735- 
; 43;125: 
14,250- 
3,100 
25,320 
5.225 



■ Band 

Will Bradley;; /. 
Eddy piichin^ . . 
Sariimy Kaye* . . , 
Ray Kinney*. ; . ,- 
Guy: Lombardp . ; 
Woody: Herman* 
Glenn Miller . . 
"Tony Pastor. . .. 



;;. '..Hote!; ,.'';/; .:.;.:,'^ 
. BiltmOre (300; $l-$i.50).l . .. . . , 
.Waldorf (S-^B;: $1-$1.50),>. 
■ . C!oriiniodore (650; 75c^$1.50) . !. . 
. iLexington (300; . 75c-$i;50 ).; . . ; 
-Roosevelt (500; $Hl.50). 
. New Ybtker .(400; 75c^$i,50),:. , 
; Pennsylvania (500; 75c-$i.50). . 
, .Lincoln <225; 75c^$i.56); 



• Coiiera- 
fV«ek* ^V»»t. 
Played -.IVcctt 

,.'7 



16 

lb 

3:1. • 
12 
1 

12 

is 



li200 
1,725, 
1,950 
li2'75 
1,475 
2,025 : 
3^150 
- 425 



. • Aslcrisfcs ;indtcqte o suppoTting floor "jfibio, although': the. ba>id.; is;;the 
major draw, ;■''-, ■>",- 



being that this further confuses; the 
public mind aS tp ihe 'music cbpy- 
right t)pbl aiid triist.'.: Thutman Af- 
nold, the. p. J. trust-buster> and U. S.; 
Attbrney/'tle'fieral Robert.Li Jackson, 
however, 'are ; said to be interested 
solely iri 'clarifying', the entire music- 
radio iTvuddle, and can ohly see an 
action filed against everybody as a 
riieari^ifor sOlutiori. - .: 

Meantime, within Inn^r, A-iSCAP 
circles, : it's repor^ted; that the so- 
cilled 'favorable' terms' that. Lieut. 
Governor - Charles Pbletti thought he- 
could; obtain for the Society under a 
consent . included pne ; 'murderous' 
proviso anent the rights to record 
tunes - for the usual 2c;per-d:isk roy- 
alty, (actually it coipes doyvri to l%c 
a' side J, . but - with it., also was cove- 
nanted- a right to publicly: perform 
for ptofit. How that supposedly was 
slipped in, . is. one of the ASCAP- 
mysteries. It's said . that; the ASCA? 
board, itself, has never seen the ptb- 
Rosed consent; merely the tbpi Offii, 
cials arid attorneys, and that this was 
one bf the, aspects which- Caused, at- 
torneys Schvyrartz & Frpshlich for the 
Society to kayo the consent idea. 
•Thurman Arnold, assistant at- 
torney-general in charge of trust- 
busting activities, was opienly piqued, 
with the I Society aftei* extensive; 
dicker ings to effect 'the best possible 
deal' lOr ASCAP under a cbnsent 
decree." 

' Charles Poletti,, Lieut. Governor of 
the State of New York, who had 
been called m by ASCAP to handle 
the negotiations, was. suddenly told 
tb forget about the whole thing after 
Charles C. Schwartz and Louis D. 
Frohlich, regular vASCiAP attorneys, 
engaged , in a very heated arguriient 
with Gene Buck and John G; Piaine, 
prez arid g.m; of ASCAP respec- 
tively. Schwartz and Frohlich could 
not see the wisdom Of a consent de- 
cree and ;riiany of the .rank-and7file 
publishers and writer-members of 
the Society felt the same way, on 
the elementary premise that this was 
tantamount to; conf essibri of guilt iri 
pooling, of copyrights, price-fixing, 
monopoly and all the bther usual 
anti-trust charges which ASCAP has 
90 vehemently denied in the past. 

Suits are expected to be started iri; 
Milwaukee. Wisconsiri is j>ow a fav- 
orite Governmental home-plate for 
trust'busting proceedings, ever since 
the oil decision which likewise ruled, 
on pooling of assets and price-fixing. 
. Wisconsin, officially, is mentioned 
because the U. S. is . supposed to have 
gathered considerable evidence there 
which has never been fully adjudi- 
cated. ; 

Wise. AFM Antl- ASCAP 

It's known also tha.t the Wiscon.isin 
branch of the American Federation 
of 'Musicians; has been mOst' heatedly; 
anti-ASCAp of ; any of the union's 
locals.' : Also WTMJ, newspaperT- 
OAyried statipn (Milwaukee -JpUrrial) 
has likewise beep vei-y anti- ASCAP. 

The. surprise all a'rpUnd, Of course, 

is ilhe' namihg of NB(j and CBS^^^^ 
Broadcast Music. Inc.; as co-defend^ 
ants, with ASGAP; SESAc (The Sb-- 
-ciety of "uropeari Stage Aiithors: and 
Cpmppsers) . was also mehtibned by 
Attbrney Geriefal Robert. L? Jack- 
son as a possible co-defendarit. ,Mu7 
tual Broadcasting System is riot men-, 
•.tib,nedi although certain Mutual lead- 
ers (stations) have been; active .with 
the; other networks in • the prO-BMI, 
buildup. ■. -. ' '■■;. ■■.' ■.. ' 

. The :U: s. . takes the : that 
between two. 'hnusip copyright jpoolsi' 
i.e.. ASCAP::arid BMIi. the public in- 
terest is myolyedr and that both are 
mbnppolistic. Any Way, the ■ piirpbse 
of the fiUit.is.to clarify riiattejcs, ' 

•it's for ; this, purpose that Qene 
Buck,;; ASCAP prez, in a formal 
statement," fplipwirig; notification of 
U. S, proceedings to indict Society 
board and its^ officers, stated .that 
'this, is the first time, to my knowl- 
edge that the Attorney General's ofr 
fice has, : addressed itself publicly to 
doing something about the monopolyT 
the power and the activities of our 
opponents.* ' .. 

: , Buck, also in the statement, lor the 



first tirrie publicly admitted that ner 
gotiations for a consent decree had 
collsipsed, stating that the. Society^ 
wanted to have the u; S.: Supreme 
Cou^t adjudicate Certain, pending 
EiroceiBdingSi' aod - that. 'The Society 
could not afford to isurrender to a 
consent decree- ultimatum on the 
grounds that it was entitled to await 
the Supreme Court's- decision.' , 
. Buck's statertjent: . ... .. 

; . 'indictment. R'egretable* 

'Attorney General Jackson's an-: 
nouricenierit to proceed to indict the 
•Amiehcah society bf Gbniposers, Au- 
thors and Publishers, b regrettable 
but does not come :as a 'Shock, tb me; 
Or my associates. ,; ' 

. 'We composers and authors bf the 
nation'haye long grown used to the 
power and influence .of -the broad- 
casters since the birth of radio. . ■ 

. . 'The only new feature of the Gov- 
erriment is Mr, Arnold's declaratiori 
to. also indict the Columbia Broad- 
casting System* the National Broad-, 
casting Company arid their 'company 
union,' Broadcast Music, .Inc., for: 
Which he receives our sinbere con- 
gratulations. . 

•• 'The breaking down' of the nego- 
tiations between the attorney general 
and ourselves was his insistence that 
we accept a, decree requiring, the So- 
ciety to do business as prescribed by 
certain laws' which the Broadcasters 
succeeded in havirig enacted in 
Florida, and Nebraska, as well as in. 
other states In 1937. 

"The states' statutes .were declared 
invalid by lllFederal judges sitting in 
three states and Upheld in one state, 
namely, Washington^ on Christmas 
eve by three judges. The Supreme 
Court, has agreed to review two. of 
the decisions. • The cases will be 
argued the latter part of next month 
or the early part of February. In 
view of the desirability, of obtaining 
an authoritative ruling on this im- 
portant question from the nation's 
highest., tribunal, the Society , sugV 
gested that discussion of these mat- 
ters be deferred until the Supreme 
Court decision. . ,. . 

, 'We believe our position and" de- 
cision: tb, refuse to yield to a consent 
decree in the light of these facts is 
sourid. 

'As the: nation knows, we are en- 
. gaged in a controversy with the 
broadcasting industry which, through ; 
its power and influence, has insti- 
gated and motivated our legal diffi- 
culties iri the nation's capital ai 
Washington and throughout . the 
separate states of the union. . . . 
■ 'We have offered arid are still will- 
ing '.to meet the broadcasters any 
time, any place, anywhere to nego- 
tiate- and to settle our differences 
—but all of the efforts of those who: 
have tried, for over eight moriths, 
including purseiyes;; have, been uri? 
successful. The - broadcasters have 
evidently decided to go through with 
their plains to boycott bur music and' 
no one it seems, includihg. thje .(lipv-^ 
ernment, can induce them to change 
^their. set course;' ■ : ■ 



v^^^ , ■ , W^ 

■ : Congested court calendars in 

■ New York and ; Chicago, alpng : 
with the material collected ;sev> 

■ eraj years agb during ah iri.ves- 
tigatibri in W^scorisin, prompted 
the - Justice Departm.ent to pick. 
Milwaukee as the jurisdiction for 
the prospective grand jury probe •„ 
of the music , copyright, situation. . i 

While other places might be 
:more .Ipgical choices, trustbust- 
ers felt they can operate more 
effectively and economically in 
. Wiscorisin. Only a short hop - to ; 
the' Chicagp office, this will 
cut travel expense and time to a 
, miniriium, . a matter of . grave 
. concern to the overworked staff. 
In addition, effort will, be re- - 
duced because the^ files contain 
' still usable data; collected oyer a 
cbnsiderable period in : anticipar,, 
tlon of the old New York equity 
proceeding against ASCAP. 



Wednesday; January 1, 1941 



TAUIIEVItLE is 




' ■ ■). Hartford, Dec, 31. 
persbnal > opposition i^^^ 

'■ (urfew law, as it affects lemrne en- 

Kiertainer^, . wias voiced . last week; 'by 
Xabor Coniimisiioner Cornelius; J. 
Danaher- at a ■ meetihg-Df r&staut^ 
owners and night :spot OpiBrators 
hete, but the commissipner 
;warned the group that as long as 
the law is . on the books: he ;wpuld 
enforce 'it 

Said the. commissioner: ^'LogicaUy, 
1 see ' no reason.' why female enter-. 
tainerS should riot be allowed in res.- 
t^ui-ahts after; 10 p.ni.' .The meeting 
Avas ■called byi the. restaurateurs ; ii.i 
an jendeavor to get a waiver , of the 
; ]av/:foF ^tonight (New Year's: Eye)., 
'The- .'commissioner .ref Used to :gi'.ant 
.same, : biit. strong ' m4ications .\y,ei'.e 

: given tiiat. there would, be a- lot., of 
eye winking. As a result; all spots 
in trie state went ahead with plans 
for utilizing fl90'^shows : embracing 

• :femine eritertarners/^^ 

It Wais;poihted out tP. the com'mis- 

. eibner that several thpusands :of dol- 
lars are going out. Of . this state into 
New York, filassachuietts; and Rhode 
Island because of the inability of 

; <Ponhecticut ; spots to put ■ on floor 
shows. .As the state is, how in an 
extra heavy era of prosperity. :(due 
to povernniertt ' defense spendirtg), 
all operators are Wprking double 
tirne scheming to > get; some ; of the 
cash. .Goncertied effort is expected 
to be made in the W4r. legislature 
to get an . aniendmient ; on • the law 

. making exemptions for: femme en- 
tertainers. Several members Of the 

:legislat«re' are .known to be: in. acr 
cord . With the- proposed change. 
Others -are already being pressured. 

The. .coirnniissioner ibid the group 
that only through proper organiza- 

: tion would they be able to get such 
an exemption passed. . Pointed but 
that the hotel group was able to get 

■ exemption for . their ' employees 
through concerted action land lob- 
bying. Only spots in the state' in. 
which femme entertainers are al;^ 
lowed legally to work after the pre- 
scribed hours are in hotels. 



Student Hi-Jinks 



;■ ;:. : . ^ •;■ V San Ahtpnip, :Dec; 3J. 

Twice in-:, successive' high.ts,"'stu^' 
dents of ia local • filgtischool caused 
.a: "disturbance- here., at. the ; 01rhos 
Dinner .Cliib;. First: disturbance, took 
p^ce :Wednesda.y - night. (25), when 
students' of a rival fra.ternaty, tried- 
to sto^ a dance being given by:an- 
ot^er grp.up; Club officials called in 
.police to stop thesfree-for^all, which 
T'esulted in' broken furniture. 

Second .dis.turb^ 
lo Wing night, with 150 students, in i 
rtiele^: Six patrol cari were oi'dered 
tp .the- club, the-, kids rounded: up and . 
lettured by thC; police oflicials and 
sent.homei ^Herman- Waldmari's orch 
■is pldyipg tlie;spPt.-^ -; ;■; 



Theodore's Show 

. Theodore's restaurant, N. Y., above 
which is. Le .Ruban Bleu', Intimate 
nitery, js also going in for entertain- 
ment and opens this week v itlt An- 
drew Rowan Summers, ■ vctealist and. 
dulcime;st, .who has been ■ getting a- 
WEAF;buildup.' - ■ ... . 

Betty Byrne, pianisti, jtist out of ■ 
.Vassar,;.will be :co.r feature with Sum- 
mers... ;Latter has "also ..waxed for 
Columbia Masterworks records. Johri 
R. .Andre'>vs .:'!et the : bookings. 




Udd YemcevDety €an1 
Get UquoF Permit 

Detroit, Dec. 31. 
Elaboraite plans for the, New Year's' 
Eve. reopening of ; the luxurious Club 
Lido ■Venice had. to be scrapped ber. 
cause of 4he State Liquor Control 
Commissibn's refusal to reiristate the 

clubV license. The cliarge against 
the club, originating in some news- 
paper advertising, was that the place 
was not Operated for private mem- 
bership, but was .' soliciting public 
patronage. 

Commissioner Alva W. Cummins 
charged that the Lido Venice ran 
newspaper advertising firom Octoberj 
1939, . to May, 1940, ..designed to. at- 
tract mOre than; just members. . The 
club surrendered its ; Ucense when 
It closed, in June. FPllowlng the sur- 
render. State ;pplice raided the place 
and reported . seizing liquor' and 
gambling equipment; . However, on 
"this count, the club cleared iis name 
pointing out. it was. not in legal pos- 
session iat the time. It recently went 
Jhrough eixpensive' renovations for 
.the open ihgi v 



. ; :Philad,elphia; Dec. '31; 
. .Six Inv'estigators.for the -U; 'S. De- 
ipartnient of Justice, arrived, in town 
I over the weekend to, investigate pps- 
j sible .violations of ■. the.'anti-'monopbly 
laws; by... the Anierican Society, of 
i Composers, Authors , and Piiblishers; 
Chief target for' the probe by Thurr 
man Arnold's boys is the ■ licensing 
of niteries iand tapi^poms by ASCAP 
to permit the playing of copyrighted, 
music. Arnong the cases, to be 
checked are those Involving ! the 
former Benny-the-Bum's, the' Ever- 
green Casino, Pelmpnico's ■ (now 
clo.sed) and the Anchorage. 
'■ The agents .will also delve into the 
records of the hundreds of cases filed 
in Federal -court here against small 
night clubs aind taprooms by ASCAP 
to force.their owners to pay. licensing 
fee's to the'- organization. Most out- 
standing case was - that ' of . the 
Anchorage, then owned by Arthur 
H. Paidula, which ASCAP sued for 
$■750 for alleged infringement - of 
copyright. The Anchorage coun- 
tered with a claim that ASCAP wa.? 
'a monopoly - in the restraint , of 
trade' and filed a counter suit for 

$50,000. 

Federal judge George A. Welsh 
threw out the Anchorage's suit in 
Novenhber, 1939, when ASCAP's at- 
torneys argued it was unsupported 
by .evidence. Later the Anchorage 
paid the .$750 and dropped the' suit. 

The agents said they wbuld confer 
with, special , assistant U: S.t attorney 
gcnel-al • R. McDonald G!ray, . here 
making • an . investigation^ Into food 
p.rice-fixing. .. '■ , 



Jess Jacdbsoii 
One of Britain's Heroes, 
A Casualty of Dunkirk 



:' ■• .:Lbndon,.Dec. 15. 

Jess Jacpbsori, one of the tbpnotch 
American :. -performers, - here since- 
1912, is -one of the A^ar^s heroic cas^ 
uaUies, it has;- 'ju-st " been learned, 
jacpbspn. went- over with the British 
- Exped i'ti ona ry ;. Force . to . France and 
BelgiUm.ias in .ambulance' driver and, 
:f rom reports, -was ;badljf -woiinded- in- 
the great Dunkirk evacuation! . '• ' 

Jacobson came to Lbndbii in 1912 
in an act with the Hedges Brothers. 
They, opened at the Palace hiere, 
\yere. receiy.ed very quielly. but with, 
the ^dvice ^ of mother -American per^ 
formers and given differint routines, 
the' act became ai sensatibn air Over 
•England 'within :lhree, month.s; ' This, 
started ..the : invasion: of 'American 
rathskeller acts. . ' '" 

The '.Hedges were ' Alvin • and 
Freddie; Alvin Ayas a lohg-distanice 
piano player, able .to keep going for 
hpUrs without repeating a tune or 
looking* at rhusic, Freddie was • a 
sinjger, as was Jess Jacobspri, but the 
latter had : . tear in . his .voice and 
niade niany' a stew.cry in his beer at 
the old CosmopPlitah 'Club. Ah act 
that followed: them and also clicked 
was The Three Rascals (Charlie 
Q'Dorinelt, Walter. Kaufman and 
Monte Wolf ) . All these boys worked 
through the first World Wir, but af- 
ter it was. over, only O'Donnell and. 
Jacobson retnained on this side. 

Jacob.son ; and .O'Donnell im- 
mediately joined up with the am- 
'■ bulance corps when this latet fracas, 
broke out. • AccPrdirig to best .pos? 
sible sources, O'DoiineJl is okay. 



Pail I. Gordon's band Js at the Broad- 
i way Beach hotel, Blloxi, Miss., 
I through January, 



PITT STANLEY RESUMES 
STAGE SHOWS JAN. 10 



Pittsburgh, bee. 3l. 

After six weeks of straight pix 
in its in-and-out vaude poliby; Stan- 
ley, WB .deluxer, will return to 
shows Jan. '10. First booked for re- 
sumption of policy will be Ted 
Weemis" band, an annual visitor here. 
Picture set for accompaniment Is 
'South of SuezV (WB ). . 

Whether' presentation's ^will be 
regular or not. Harry Kalmine, Zone 
manager for . Warners here, couldn't 
say..' One thing wais certain, though; 
he insisted, and that was stage \yould 
be unshuttered only when' hame 
-shows were available and that vaiide 
juist for vaude's sake would be out. 




... '■■ ' . iBoston, Dec. Sl; 

Betty Kean, dancer, arid ^Vivienne: 

Ailenj. singer, both in ' the': cast, .'of: 

'Clrazy- With the Heat/- revue, playing 

the Sliubert here, are ' dPublirig in' 
"nitery !dates, ■;s.fa'rting. Monday. . (30) « 

'. : Miss Kean .i's= at the Versailles!: and 
Miss .Alien '.at. the Mayfair. .;-.: 







.> ..' ■ '.:...■• '■ Seattle, Dee. .31. 

More r time- On- the ' Levey - ..circuit 
,iri ; the northwest and Cajivada wa.s 
'ahnounced following visit here. .this 
vi^eek of Bert Levey, who came up 
from HpHywbpd,tp confer; with Len 
Maritell, Seattle manager. ' : 

Orpheum (Evergreen) , Portland, 
opens. With five-act bill, full we.ek, 
starting i Jan.; 3. The hew Vogue 
theatre, Vancouver, .B. C, ij[ Set . to 
open March 1 as- a full week' sta;nd, 
usirig name bands and" units. : This 
house; •.costihg $250,000, "is nearing 
compretiori,. being built, by RifeiJ 
Bros., brewers who recently sold . out 
and' liave sonie. coin to put into ac- 
tion. ■.''.- ;■"■ 

Indicatiye'of a new Evergreen pol- 
icy, in addition to yaude for Port- 
land, is prospect of weekend vaude 
at Music Box, Tacoma, and Or- 
pheum, Spokane, starting soon. 



Injunction Ties Up 
St. L. Booze 



St. Lbiiis, Dec. 31'. 

Thi"ough the-mediurri of an injunc- 
tion suit brought by the State Retail 
Liquor Dealers' Assn.' to. restrain 
cops and the cxci.se commission frpm 
enforcing the 1:30 a.m. closing hour. 
New Year's eve celebrants patroniz;^ 
ing niteries, hotels and taverns 
drank after the legal hour. The 
temporary ' restraining order .issued 
by Circuit. Judge Eugene L. Padberg, 
who leaves the bench Jan. 6, will not 
be heard until Jan. 4. 

The liqiior dealers want, a judicial 
interpretatipn of the law, which, re- 
quires only that liquor "sales shall 
cea§e at 1:30 ^a:m. weekdays and 
midnight Saturday, but fixes no time 



A joint meetirig .of the 'new execu- 
tiye board of the ■Ameridan Guild .of 
Variety .; Artists arid the governing 
boat-d';. Monday (30)^ discussed: for 
nearly ■ fivp : hoiirs : the . proposed 
meifger of . AiGVA .with Equityrwhicii' 
would put the vaude-riitcry and le- 
git performers all- under one .juijs- 
diction^ without arriving at.: any. defi- 
nite conclusions. Another. .meeting 
is scheduled for: late -this woek, : 
early next; : -.'-^ ^- .;' - 

Suggestion that Equity take over 
the jiirisdictipri- of AGVA was made 
edirly last. week on the. Coast by- the 
Screen^Actprs: Guild,; the idea being: 
that y.aude-riitery^ perfoiTners .be in 
[the '. same 'ppgitib^^^ as is- Chorus 
Equity now; Latter has no voice 'in 
the government iaiid • administratibri 
of Equity. 

It's known that several connected 
with AGrVA are ..strongly agnirist 
-any association with Equity Which 
would cost the AGVA- nficmbers their 
autonomy. On the other : hand, it's 
doubtful that Equity would take 
thehi in. on any other basis,, f Or the' . 
yaude-riitpry : .field,, if : fully orgari- 
ized,: would eventually give the lat- 
ter performers a wide majority bver ' 
legiters in Equity. . ... .; 

:- The SAG proposal sterts directly 
fiiom- :' AGVA's desperate financial 
condition, which: both : SAG and 
Equity have been feeding; for a totkl- 
of . well over $60,000; It is believed 
that AGVA's coin stress would be 
eliminated If .it moves in . with 
Equity, aiid probably soon be put on 
a paying basis. ■ 

. On the pther hand, it's pointed out 
that its newly signed deal with the 
New York vaudeville houses should 
considerably swell AGVA's paid up 
iriembership. The union's real prob- 
lem right now is hOw to cut down 
its high office expenses, inctirred 
when the Associated Actors and 
Artistes of America kept assuring 
'AGVA not to worry about money- 
implying that the. Four A's would 
replenish AGVA's treasury when 
necessary. 



WeisfeldtHiresaP.A. 
For Vaude Who Only 
Knows From Fnines 

Milwaukee, Dec. 31. 
When Ed J. Weisfeldt. manager of 
the Riverside theatre here, took over 
the Minneisbta in Mlnneapoli.s, re- 
opening . tonight (Tues.), he let the 
word go out that he wanted a good 

fiir"'ihe^ actual Ihutterinref- liquor '"^",^7^1'' V<>'-l*..:of- 

disp;ensing places. . ; • . 1 both hpu.ses._ Earl Tetting applied for 



All SET NOW 

Creditors and Court' OK Minnesota's 

'■'tease In- Mpls. ; ■■.■-...:-. 

Minneapolis,, riec. 31'. . ' 

' Creditors .and the IT.,' S. referee in 
':. bankruptcy apprPyed th'e lease of the I 
4,000-seat Minnesota theatre to ]Mid-'' 
die .States Corp. of Milwaukee, oper- ■ 
ators of the -Riverside theatre there. ( 
Lease calls for five months' rent free! 
?1,0D0 a. month thereafter, for the., 

.nrst year and that amount minimum . 

. against 15% of the gross for the next , 
four years, with the lessee privileged' 

to cancel any time two. ^weck.s' : 
notice. 

: '■ House opened last night (Monday).' 
with yaudfilm policy at 28-3,9c.- Ken 
- Murray : 15 .'initial ...headliner; 'Lou ' 
:Holtz, .Wendy :Barri.e, Lbl'a:.Larie and ' 
-Arlirie Judge, are ori the second .hill: 
A, B. Marcus show the' third week.'-' 
First show rurifj 10 days because of 
'he pre-New Year op.ening. 



ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 

NEXT WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8 




. Advertising Forms Close Friday ^ Jan, 3 
:No Advance in Rates or ISewsstand Price of 




Many subscribers and readers buy extra copies of Variety's 
V ; anniversary issues to be mailed to friends. Orders; sbould lne : 

placed in advance with your liewsdealer or at any Variety officfe 

;.' ,• NEW YORK CHICAGO vHOLLYWOOD ; LONDON 

. 154 W. 46th St. , 54 W. Randolph St. 1708 N. Vine St. . . 8 St. Martin's PI. 



the job and, when interviewed, ad- 
! niitted he had never bceh in show 
1 business, knew nothing about vaiide- 
or stage productions; . in fact," had 
I never paid much . attention to the 
, theatre. 

I ' 'Well, what have you been doihg?' 
I queried Wei-sfeldt. 'What makes you 
; think you're qualified for this job?' . 
I 'I've been selling prune."?,' replied 
•Tetting. ; ' 

. .'Yoii're hired,' .said Eddie, wlio 
; thinks that prunes are harder to sell . 

than yaudeviile; 
Livingstone Lanning, foi-mer man- 
. ,ager' of the Fox WlscPn.sih theatre- 
' here, has been ;made. manager of the 
i ;Minnesota, arid the bill ripening the 
• hou.se is topped by Keh^ Murray .'and-. 
. Qikic. Dunbar. ; Shows wi 

;intact : from ; the - Minneapolisii house 

to the Riverside here;.- . 



HENIE FACES UNION 
TROUBLE IN DETROIT 



. Detroit, Dec. 31. : . 
, . Spnja Henie ipe show, ^schedulpd ,tp 
play here following cUrrent Chicago 
f ngagompnt. may run" : into such ' un- 
ion; dimcujties that. po.<;.sibIy, will pre-', 
vent it frotn playing, a local date. 

Undor.stood ' that the ..s^v.c•r^ll- thea- 
iriral unions have already informed 
Arthur Wirtz of .their deiriand.*. wjth- 
vi'.arnings that the ..show . u-ill -not be 
.pprm:itt('d to . play unlf;.s.s lhc.<;e de- 
.:ma iifls ,'i rc met. . It. : l.s . i hd i cated' that 
Wirtz, how here, .. is of no mind at- 
r>r'Of;onl. to . signature nhy .•igrpcmen't 
.along. .Ihc Icrm^ . sought .l)y. the uri- ' 
iohs; .' -,"' .' . •". . • ; • 



36 



VAUDEVILLE 



Wednesday^, January 1941 



iSight Ciub Revieivs 



Earl Carroll**, H'wddd 



■/ Hollyuiood, Dec. 26.^.1 
Jimmy Durante, Frank. LiHiise, St.. 
Claire and Ddy, Buster Shaver with 
Olive and: George,:The D.^bomaires, 
Baryl Wallace, Frdrikie Conville arid 
Sunny Dale, Slate. Bros., Bill Brady, 
Mdrgot Braiidef, Manny Strand's 
Orch .Hi), : Ghutf Reyes rhumba 
hand C6) ; $3 admissiori includes Wi- 
ner. '• ' ■' ■ \.' 



In his two yeats as. a Hollywood 
entrepreneur. Earl earroli: has 
staged five revues. Current edition, 
tagged 'Pan-Ameri<?ana,' is the topr 
pier, broad in comedy and mounted 
with spectacular glitter. It has 
Jimmy. Durante, and that spells belly 
laughs in any language. ; The schnoz 
is given the lead and, romps through 
the two acts and most of the 34 
scenes; He's ..the wow boy as fai: as 
the natives are- cbnc/rhed . arid he'll 
keiep thetn coming into the tavern, 
loriig after the othersVhave yr6in thin 
their popularity. He's the first big 
coin-getter on the Carroll time and 
will richly repay! latter for his gam- 
ble. , ■ ■ ■ . 

As liberal as he is with his time 
and talents; Durante ■ leaves' theni 
panting for mbre. The first highters 
lust couldn't get their fill of, his de- 
lirious antics and he had to beg off 
time and again. An opportunist, he 
stretched a late bit at least. 15. minr; 
utes beyond its .allotted time in, a 
ribbing routine : with .: batoneer 
Manny Strand, who had his troubles 
keeping up . with the comic's trick 
tempocs. ' Only a great performer 
like Durante coiild have kept them 
howling around 2 a. m; after, a long 
show. He rises above his material 
and at timies falls, back, on the oldi 
SUrefii-e routines to keep the sigs 
out. Hollywood is his oyster and 
little wonder that Carroll was iill 
smiles at the brfeak-iri. Turnout was 
near capacity and there'll be: no need 
for . boxoffice 'dressing' while thfe 
schnoz keeps chucking the laughs. 
. Another first rate performer in 
this hilarious extravaganza is Frank 
Libiise, who Wotks the tables with 
his fumbling, stumbling waiter 
routine and goes on stage for a help 
ing in sieveral skits. His deadpan 
pantomiihicry is fiercely farcical and 
had the customers reeling. -His forte 
Is ribbing the customers and that 
generally calls for at least one sock 
on the kisser a night. He got by 
this one without , a hand, being laid 
on him. He has shaded it to a fine 
i&rt and hiever stays in one's hair 
too long. ■ 

A femme midget, Olive .Brasno, 
uncorks a personality that rates the 
description 'cut6,' but superlatively; 
She's a miniature Carmen Miranda 
and a performer for all. her: inches, 
showmanly all the way. .Buster 
Shaver and George, midget brother 
of the little fireball, are submerged 
by her artistry. The Debonnaires,. a 
sextet of precision dancers, . are 
nimbly effective, scoring decisively 
in a machine-age number, in which 
they simulate: the movements of a 
mechanical giant. 

Ballroom dance-team of St. Claire 
and Day is suave and versatile, jgiv 
Ing out With a difficult routine 
wherein, he lights and sniokes a 
clgaret While twirling his partner 
around his shoulders. It proved a 
show stopper and cinched for them a 
long engagement, here. ■ Beryl Wal- 
lace, the decoEative eyeful of all 
Carroll revues, is more active than 
lA:i>revious shows and appears In 



many singing and dancing spots. 
Frankie Conville and Sunny: Dale 
have a corhedy tiirn that verges on 
slapstick. Margot Brahder is an ef r 
fective foil for tibuse and the Slate 
brothers are 'holdovets from: the last 
revue. So is their .material, ahd if s 
not to6 funny. Bill Br^dy does .most, 
of the vocalizing and has a nice pair 
of pipes to set off a'trim personality. 
LiUian Randolph,, sepia songstress, 
niay have scat in her soul biit it 
doesn't effuse any too scofchingly. 

Of the tunes concdcted by Charles 
Rosoff, Ray Gilbert and Robert 
Q'Brien, 'Madame - Will Drop Her 
Shawl' has the best chaiice of getr 
ting aroundi There are several other 
tuneful ditties and put of the score 
may emerge .. sleeper as was the 
case . in - the last Carroll . edition. 
Johniiy Boyle arid Jerry Gray staged 
the enseiriblts. Production lumbers 
by Carroll are lavish and colorful 
arid the line' of girls gaily garbed. 

Tariff has ' b6en .hiked from $2.50 
to $3 .fOi< this stanza; due to the new 
cui>ine setup headed by Marcel La- 
maze, orietime nitery operator arid 
enjoying quite a rep for the victuals 
he dispensed. That extra 50c goes 
into the food,. Cai'roll claims, and 
first nighters were . agreed^ that the 



uppirig: is justifed. 
• Carroll's is still far. arid; away the 
beat nitery: buy alonl; these slopes 
and if he continues to! dish up this 
kind , of entertainment his tavern 
wtia't lack for customers, and long . 
queufes at the , wicket will be .ho 
novelty. . .' . Helm.. 

GAY WHITE WAY 

."(NEW;-.tORk);., 

Entire shoto conceived and stagied 
by George White;' songs Herb 
Mdgidson and Ben Oakla'fid: jcos- 
tumes- designed: by .Mi/les White; 
ppenirtff niffht minimum $10; $1.50 
thereafter. 

Cast: Joan. Edioards, JWtmi Keller- 
ihdn, Juanitd. Rids, Al Norman, Ger^ 
dldine and Joe, Carol King,, Glotia 
Blake, Marion Miller, Harris and 
Shore, Coley Worth, Marcia Ray, 
Bunny Hartley, George Negrette, 
Henry Sherwood, Kay Pentdfi^ Bob 
Shea, Anri Penningion, SO show and 
chorus girls, Shep Fields' prch, and 
Fausto Gurbclp's r/iumba band. 



.' Geprge White's bpw as nitery 
entrepreneur oh Broadway in ■:. the 
former Cotton Club quarters was cir- 
cumistantially sad.: "Top many, things 
went wrpng . arid tpp many things 
were wrpng ^s far as the shpw. was 
cohcerried, arid : it. was doubly un- 
fortunate because the essence of a 
fine riight club is. here. And it will 
probably, be there, for Whit* cer- 
tainly should whip ..things into shape 
before very lpng. Already the shPw 
is starting to imprpve, since its : $10 
'premiere' Thursday (26) night. 
■ To the Gay White Way's credit is 
the beautiful new decor pf the large 
rppm itselfi plus the riiost 'gorgeous 
costuming on a horde of the niftiest 
looking girls seen ori Broadway in 
the: past 15 years,vat least. The cos- 
tummg and git-ls stood but despite 
the show's faulty routining and light- 
ing; in fact, they were the only sav- 
ing graces of a premiere evening 
which: ran. the gamut' froni a spur 
trumpet in Shep Fields' prch tp fre- 
(juent breakdowns of the p.a. system 
and missed light cues. 

White himself preceded the shPw 
with an applpgy tp the audience, 
warning them that the prpductipn 
was riPt ready and. that 'pne arrange- 
ment had arrived only a half-hpur 



TheJHEATRE of the STARS 




agp.' H^ figured, hpwever; that it 
would muddle , thrpugh pkay> It 
didn't, justifying: the" advice of asso- 
ciates and friends that he should 
have postponed the eVerit a. few days. 
It's figured that White's initial ex- 
pense runs to around $60,000, includ- 
ing the new decor in and outside the 
building, stage revisibris/. cpstumesi 
etc. .His tajbnt nut is at least $6,500 
anj^, counting . ajriprtizatibri of costs 
plus rental, he'll probably have to 
gro.ss at least $14,000 weekly to breate. 

That' will be. easy, in a rppni of 
this size, seating ;riiore than 700, if 
there's a reasonable turnout of cus- 
tomers, .inasmuch as there: isn't an- 
othier nitery in New York. ndw. fea^ 
turing a big girl shpw, White has thd 
basic fpuridatibn fbr appeal to a cer- 
tain element, but he must give them 
more than girls arid fine' prbductiori 
niceties-..' . . -■ ■ '• ■.-.'■ "■ ■ ' ■.■ 

Chiefly, lacking In this shpw is a 
strpng cpriiiedy act; chiefly irHtaiting 
is :a nerve- wracking slpwriess pcca- 
sipned by White's idea pf ;Pan-Ariieri^ 
can .gp.pdwiU- This:has tWp glials ex- 
plaining, first : in English and then 
Spanish,: every:: scene to a pseiido 
'Latin-American .'amhassador' seated 
in the alidiertce. The supposed: coni'' 
edy bit at the finish with tWis sanie 
ambassador, .wh€(^n he first belches 
and then gives put with Yiddish, 
makes it Jppk dpubly bad. ..(This- was 
cut tight after the preem, speeding 
things up Immeasurably.) : . 

The specialties, as a result Pf the 
explanations, were .ieach ; faced with 
the handicap of re-warmirig: an audi- 
ence successively chilled by the; dull 
verbiage written by While. Fiew. of 
therri owere able ; to overcbrtie the 
created apathy, . Joari Edwards, a 
fine vocalist, was rUined by the lick 
of spund almpst Sll the ;way; dittp 
spme of the : other . singers like 
Marion Miller,- who also jittferbugs, 
and Kay Peritori. Fault of the p.a. 
systerii appeared to center in the 
mikes , hahgirig from the ceiling: to 
the . stage; : because operatic Gloria 
Blake;: . singing frolin the glas-sed-in* 
Stage inset under the orch shell, was 
not bothered as much. 

The sight specialists fared better. 
Ai Norman's comedy impression of a 
subway straphanger gpt acrpss: nicely 
early iri the show, as did (joley 
Worth's rubber-ankled rube routine 
in. the latter half. Mimi Kellerriian, 
a svelte brunette;, clicks with: a pas- 
sional in dance, and two mixed cbriiT 
edy dance teams, Harris and Shore,: 
and Geraldine and Joe, alsp .score, 
thPiigh they definitely: coriflict. What 
will perhaps be a standout oncfe the 
show is revised .is the 'Spirit of 
Vienna . Scene,' with Gloria: Blake 
singirig behiifid- Carol King's tpe 
work. Latter is a fine dancer, but 
was restricted by' the low-hanging 
mikes, one bf Which nearly knbcked 
her pver. . The bit has the. makings, 
hPwever, pf a fine production effort; 
None of the other scenes, all of them 
conceived arid staged . by White, is 
particularly butstandihg, . arid some 
played very raggedly; Nor is the 
score ^ by Herb^ MagidsPri arid Ben 
Oakland prpmising .cbrivmercially. 
Other specialty names on the cast 
roster are in for orily iricbrisequcntial 
bits. 

The finishing scene gives the house 
the first glimpse of Ann Pennington, 
which 'makes Jier tiny contribution 
Virtually the show's starring feature. 
This section has. White reprising all 
pf the great sbngs arid dances that 
came put of his past 'Scandals,', in- 
cluding 'SPmebpdy Lbves Me,' 'Life 
Is Jtist a BpwI Pf Cherries,' That's 
Why Darkies Were Born.' 'Charlesr 
tori,' This Is My Lucky Day,' 'Stair- 
way to Paradise,' 'Black BPttbm' 
(Penningtpn), The . Birth bf the 
Blues* arid with 'RhapsPdy in Bliie' 
thrpwn in fpr , gpod measure.'. This 
also was top ragged, especially in the 
lighting and spimd system, tp make 
any sort of impression ODening riieht^ 
Bert Knapt batoned Shep Fields' 
orch iri playing the show and the 
music also didn't help the show! A 
sour trumpet was predominant all 
the way. Fausto Curbelb's rhumba 
band, however, gave a gPPd accPunt 
pf itself in playine fpr the custpmer- 
dancing befpre the 80-minUte prdr 
ductibn, which appeared like 800 
minutes,' gpt underway art hpur late. 

White reputedly has Eqjil Fried- 
lander, pf Dazian'Si arid DaVe Stein- 
berg, pf the Kay: : Veldpn Studips, 
which did the. decpr, financially in- 
terested in the nitery. AlsP in fbr a 
piece ' is Mpnte PrPser . . (Beach- 
cbmber), but ;this wa.s a : gesture- pf 
friendship frpm White and :didri^t: 
entail any paissing pf cpih. , 

With Earl :eat'i'Pirs ckbaret-thea- 
tre, a click: in HPllywpod, there's rip 
reaspri why Broadway shbuld riPt 
Price again siippprt a similar institu- 
tipn. where for long ;the policy was: 
quite. Succeissfuli , Scho. 



Victor Hugo, Beverly Hills 



New Acts In Cafes 



PATRICIA BO.WMAN 
With Jack Boettelrer 
Ballet. Dahcejf. 
10 Mins. 

La Martinique, N; T. 

' ■■- Patricia Bbvirman, . dieaspned - arid 
shpwriiahly ballerinsi, standard in 
presentatipn and prpduction, is es- 
saying the niterles- as a -imeans to ex- 
tend her scppe.: For that purpos£ 
she has Jack Boetteiger as an aide 
iri the dual dance routines; :«he her-: 
self dpes . twp splps^ split lip.lnto two 
sessibris. :.':.. . :• '■. ■: ■^':"■-■ 

In a sympathetic cafe enVirpnnient 
like La Martinique where boniface 
Darib,. himself, an ex-professional, 
dares to lie different-rhe has an 
ppera singer, Carlos Ramicez;; in hlis 
third month; and dnirig big with the 
idea— Miss Bpwmari wlU . pirobably. 
find' her cafe best groove, iSarije might 
gp fbr a class spot like the Rainbpw 
Rppm; N. Y. . But by. arid large she's 
npt a cafe act, unless she xe-rputiries 
her stuiff. into a zippier tempo. No 
gainsaying h^r-terpsichpreah artistry: 
and the atteritibn .It cpmmands, even 
iri; a hectic nocturnal eavironrhenti 
but only calssicists like Paul Draper, 
Paul HaakPn. et dl. can merchandize 
artistic terps in cafes, and even they 
must make it stand up with verve 
and shpwmahship,, Abel. 



the half-dpzen sdectees are put to 
wprk. Most of therii cpme crpppers 
PH. such questions aH. 'What letter is 
bmitted from the dial telephpnes'' 
(Q) and 'What are the wPrds bn a 
mall bpx?' ('Pull Dpwn'), which 
makes the perfprmer liable for the 
penalty. : In the shpw caught^he 
has plenty bf vairiatlpns— Edwards 
had a. giiy dp a fan dance imperspria- 
tipri bf Sally . Rand; a housewife 
rattle .away as a pne-wbman orches- 
tra among kitchen utensils, another 
guy imitate a woman, getting ready 
arid taking , a: bath, two perfprmers 
(boy and girl) chewing on string 
toward, a; centered marshmallbw, 
and another contestant sticking his 
head iriside ai bird cage and. singing 
•I'm only a Bird iri a Gilded Caie' 
while being fed «rackers; ■ 

. Edwards and his crejv are deft at 
Working the participants into h^rd 
tries— the best pnie gets $5 iri addi- 
tipri to the $2 prize and spap^whiclv 
all helps; the 'cpmic pattern pf the 
gags register .well. , • Pppl.- ; 



RULSON, MORGAN & B ARO 
Satiric Balii-obm Dancing: 
Leon & . iBddie^s, N; T. 

Aets Which, . burlesqiia ballrppm 
routines ar6 plentiful. However, 
this, turn improves on the idea— but 
strictly fpr flbbrshbws pf this type. 
Instead pf being content with the 
usual, false trips . arid spills, the Rul- 
spri trio adds a bit of slapstick via 
being decked put in; trick sets of 
evtving clothes which progressively 
cpme apart at the seams with each 
falter. At the finish the twb men 
are. in tatters, while the girl winds 
up in brief bra arid . riet parities. 

'S^i-iP wPrk haird in putting over 
the stuff and the men are npne tpp 
gentle with the femme. She. gets 
banged arpund plenty in the as- 
sumed : burigling pf lifts, . spins and 
tpsses. One pf the first rents which 
appear iri the girl's clothing Is in 
the rear and it brings hPWls. 

Turn finished five weeks at this 
spot Dec, 19. Wood. 



:, Beverly Hills, Dec. 26. 
Ben, Bemie Orch (14) with. Bdtley 
Sisters, Don Soxtpn,- Billy Carey, 
Jphn Timpthy ;Ryon; ininimum'$1.50. 

Swank ■ Victpr: Hugp has valuable 
name drawing attractibn in the Ben 
Berhie .outfit for: its room, which, 
seats about 450. Berriie Is a natural 
fbi: the spot ias well as with the pic 
mob, who are jkeen fbr the Bemie 
type of quips and . witticism^. For 
Ppening Bernie haid the. diamtPnd 
hprseshbe element pf ishpw; biz 
around the" ringside of the eatery and 
all helped make the occasibn a mpst 
festive one, with Eddie Cantor and 
Lou HPltz getting but on the floor 
(Continued on page -37) - \. 



JATNE MANNBRS j. 

Songs 

8 MIns. 

La Martinique,- N..:T. ; 

Jayne Manners is a tall, lissome 
lobker who, fpr all of her . almost-six 
feet in height, is a graceful personal^ 
ity, very photpgenTque and Impres- 
sive; pn 'class' values iri class cafes: 
She|s frpm Holly wbod. 'Where, she 
has been working In local niterles. . 

Her repertbire embraces 'Lpuisi^ 
aria Purchase' fpr her rhythm salute, 
and . thence 'Berkeley Square' arid 
'Dp You Know Why,' two ballads. 
She workis with a mike and has . a 
pleasant if npt top rpbust vpice. 
Thus, her perspnality appeal shapes 
up as the prime allUire, Vvhich iri 
combinatipn with art average vocal 
♦nlent is sufficient untb the purpose 
therepf. . Abel. . 



New Acts in Theatres 



ALICE MARBLE 
Singing 

10 Mins.-In One 

State, N. T. ... 

Alice Marble, of the blonde Vik- 
ing type and a tennis champ of mpst 
durable standing^ recently turned 
professional in sports. However, 
her entry into th^ field of stage pro- 
fessionalism finds her with limited 
equipment. She has a strong con- 
tfaltp, arid it's okay for tbrch songs, 
but it won't fire the listener's emo- 
tions. ,.' •-: - • 

Miss Marble's routine Includes 
some specially written verises in 
which there is included the query, 
•You might be 'Wfondering what I'm 
doing here?' That in itself provides 
a . wide opening.' ' Her rbutine in- 
cludes an original . iset of lyrics to 
'It . Was One of . Those . Things,' 
through which the uninitiated are 
made aware of the ways of romance 
at the Westchester Country Club. 
It's all too, too swanky .and dubious- 
ly entertaining. Okay for class 
niterles, however, . in which field 
she's already appeared. . Odec. > 

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 
Quiz; Audience . Particlpatibn : 
30 Mins. 
Fox, Detroit. . 

An old parlpr game, first carried 
intP the radip successfully, npw has 
made its Way onto . the stage with 
the quality that' small town 'magi- 
cians had when they invited the 
folks lip oh the stage. Ralph Ed- 
Wards, who handles the radio show, 
prbvides ■ plenty of Inn for both the 
volunteer perfbrmers and ai^dience, 
since the:; antics which radio audi- 
ences have brily:beeri able to iriia- 
gine haVe plenty of visual appeal. 

Edwards 'wastes five or 10 minutes 
bf the act in gping putlritp the audi- 
ence to- pick up his ilfipromptu per- 
formers; While it affords, time to 
letting him ease off some fairish 
humor with the crowd and prove 
that it is geritiine audierice participa- 
tibn,. the begirining whittles dpwri 
the time fpr the meat of the per- 
formance. Gags are goPd ones when 



Unit Reviews 



; : lieyiiiieV 

"" (PALACE, CLEVE.) 

Cleveland, Dec. 28. 
Olive Fay, Rosemary Dering, 
Shyrettos, Gene Sheldon, Truzzi, 
T.hree Npnchdlants;; Arnawt Bros., 
Blanche . Bradley and Singing Ma- 
rines, Ruth Cooke's Line (35), 
Bert . Unger's pit Orch; 'Bank Dick 



By getting all his acts frpm Bill 
Howard Pf New Yprk as well as a 
carload of lavish- settings and. cos-- 
tumes from Manhattan, Nat HpU 
biiilt up : a surprisingly strong, slick 
new, unit show Pf his own fpr New 
Year's week at his RKO deluxcr 
Palace. ' ; , - ■■ 

There's nothing smalltbwriish 
abput this 'Revue Iriternatipnale,' 
staged by David Bines. With a well 
picked cast pf 51, including iari ex- 
ceptiprially smart line pf 35 comely 
dancers, plus .17, ppuient scenes that 
iriipress, it's got more of a big-time 
flavpr than, say, the tabbed 'Scan- 
dals' seen here recently. . Np big 
nariies in it, but revue has a dazzlirig 
wealth of CPlpr,: gppd talent, zippy 
tempb and crisp, shpwmanship tp 
make it a ppssible bet f pi: HpU's 
plans^ to send it. put intact pn tpur. 
Clicking big" with hpliday crpwds, 
hPuse is reaping pne pf its best 
grp'sses pf the seaspn. 

In itial . s.cene tagged 'Salpri des 
Mpdes' is a snappy : intrpductpry 
riumber fpr Ruth Copke's shpwgirls, 
whb dance put as Parisian mpdels in . 
sauby outfits pf black valvet with 
orange slashings. Olive FayJn Cos- 
sack suit whirls out *rith some brisk 
kriee-kicks, follpwed by Rpsemary 
Dering. Whpse tricky equestrienne 
steps earn the first heavy salvo. Lat- 
ter really goes to tpwn with first- 
rate, graceful tbe. wprk in a spectac- 
ular Viennese riumber. 
. Between them the three Shyrettps 
scppt arpurid stage at a breakneck 
speed, on" 18-fopt unicycles tp wiri 
laughs. A distinct European npvelty 
and new here; Mbre familiar. but a. 
fave ccmic is Gene Sheldcri, mug- 
ging on a hot banjp. ParitPmime is . 
pf the old Harry Langdon school, yet 
it seems fresh and howl-catching 
when he's getting, fingers tangled in 
strings or silently ribbing girl pai:t- 
ner. .■ . ' , 

Twp Arnaul Brbs. arid their stands, 
ard turn nf bird imitatibns are re- 
juvenated by 'Rhapsbdy pf Feathers' 
enseriible in which chprines flutter 
put with them as birds pf paradise. 

Flashiest set centers arpund a 
South American fiesta, with chorus 
swinging . Out in colorful rhumbas' 
while Blanche Bradley and Singing 
Marines turn gauchos to chant 

(Continued on page 37) 



Best Co0e6 in England . 

(jyAMtyiNN 

Leiceattr' Square 
LONDON. WEST- END 



1 



1 BEST BUY IN DETROIT I 

Raton from 9t.S0 Ninfrle Rnd «3.rt0 ^ 
dnuUl«. .8p«r.lal neekly mtea tQ ^ 
(lie prAfesiilpo,. « 
Every room hi> ' eomblnatUn (ub -•"f ^ 
showfr.' Roawnkbla-prlead rutatirant ana 
encklall bar. Csmpletely rthablMtaUd 
throughout. ' Convtnlent, -.to all: booking 
otrlces a'Kd' downtown -id Ittrlet.. . 

I HOTEL WOLVERINE 

. Frank Walker, Manager 

55 E. Elizabeth St., Detroit 

(Same 'management as Hotel 
CHicagoan, -Chicago)' . 



1 



1 



D U F Fl N S 



UETJ> OVER AT ' ^ 
BOOK CADILLAC, DETROIT 



WcdniBsday;: Janiiiiry 1, 1941 



VAUHEmLE 97 




Reviews 



sCpntiniicd Xroni page 36; 



Victor Hugp, Beverly Hills 

and doing s UltiieSlpr-fr^^^ 

. The Bernie band is; new here as 
are its sojbiists,; It is a refreshing ! 
collectioin of youthful melody makers^; 
and fits perfectly -for' the terpsir , 
chorean requitements. Theii: rhund- i 
bas and -congas are especially suited ' 
to the dancers; ;/ ' v 

iSernie carries five chanfers, two 
lemjne, and> three .yoiiths. Gals, the; 
Bailey Sisters,' are ~a comely, duo 
with melodic voices- that ; - blend: 
beautifully in torch renditions, JVjth 
musical p'icts' in. offing, it's .likely- 
the gals may get set: in a,film. or so 
around here. Same goes . for Billy 
Carey, wtio goes foir . the j^itterbug 
type of iriyodizing. Other chanters 
are an Irish tenor; John Timothy 
Ryan, with' a sweet; melodious voice, 
and baritone Dori.Saxton. - 

.With good balanced troupe, draw 
is strictly cbiitirigent' on^Bfirnje, who 
has vast .iacquaint'ah'ce . and fQllowihg 
her? and who: will.-: undoubtedly 
bolster tfade in the;establishriient.v 

■ •'■ •■ ■ v't'.W::' 

CHEZ PAREE, CHI 



.' .CWcagb, Dec. 26. 

: Four Ji^ronlcs, Juvclvs - (2) / Jonc 
Fromdn, /oe' E; LcuHs, Fred Evans 
pallet (16) , I.OU - Breese Ordh, . Don 
' Orlando Ofch: 

^ The Ghez maintains its generally 

. high entertainmeht, excellent serv-; 
Ice and splendid atmosphere oh the 
current show, with Joe Ei . Lewis 
holding over and further demon- 
strating that he has become a triily 
great comedian. 

Lewis' standard •material Has be- 
come classic already in.; show busi- 
ness, and he is constantly brushing 
up With new piecies. Of more iiti- 
iwrtance is the distinctly stahdout 
comedy, style of. delivery that he 
has Dolished to a high brilliance. 
He is strictly the best muggs'; comic 
around -today, though also one for. 
those of the upper strata who like 
their humoi' lowdbwn. 

Also shining is Jane Froman, who 
seemingly geis. better each appekr- 
ance. /L looker, she whangs any 

. audience with her inimitable vocal 
style. Even powders 'erii with 
strictly baritone tunes as- 'Ain't 

, Necessarily So.' Impresses as, one 
who would bie most' happy with 
strictly ballads and torch stuff, but 
she insists on doing a general , lihfe 
of vocals, and at present Miss Fro- 
man can do no wrong. . 

The Four Franks have grown 
rapidly in. the past couple of years 
and are now getting a bit too jnature 
for saxophone .playing and .kid 
clowning. At least the blonde 'girl 
has the basis for an adult turn with 
her hokum comedy/ the brunet, 
figures for some neat solo ..dancing 
in adult style, while the two fellows 
can drop thfe saxes for ^ome' straight 
hoofing.. The Juvelys are ah out;-. 

-Standing novelty acrobatic balancing 
co'iple. Their . head-to-head stuff is 
strictly, original. 

/Lou. Breese orchestra ; is' back at 
the old stand and is a real welcome 
sigh. Always a neat musical aggre-r. 
gation, . it proves itself with nifty 
. playing of this sho,w and for the 
dancing. : . ' ' y 

To Fred Evans goes the nod for 
putting on a stirring dance number. 
•Birth of the Colored Dance' is the 
Ijast word in rhythm, 'choreographyj 
style and expression. With the cos- 
tume assistance of Frances Pallester 
and the Breese . orchestra musically, 
the number blossoms as something 
to see and talk about. Gold: 

BLUE ROOM, N. O. 

(HOTEL ROOSEVELT) 

New Orleans, Dec. 28. 
Bill Bordo'a Orch, Mortort Doibnei/, 
Esther Todd, Ori . P^sici, Darlene 
Wilderj ahd Maurine an^ 

This swank; spot, with kood sho'ws 
as a rule^ maintains the stiaindard 
■with Bill Barjdb's versatile ; crew. 
Spot continues to. attract capacity 
cro'wds; iJbtrceable is shbrthess vof 
show, put it moves in good tefnpb: 
ahd:iri entertainment value is ;a hbli- 
day package wrapped up with all the 
:trimmin§(s;. ■ ^ 

Oh strength of previous. : visits, 
here arid an; entirely pleasing,' wtork- 
nianlike; creW»;o9ardo V is drawing 
them in large numbers. /Batdb i:i an 
easy-going mVc; enhanced by the ab- 
.sehce bf a patent-leather ;finish, and 
is a wise selection for a. holiday sea- 
sbri meant to : be friendly .and 
jubilant. No slouch on violin,., he 
batolns- orchestra ; from the. 'Blue. 

; Danube* to the cbhga. .'His boys play 

; the music .of . Argentina, of nostalgic 
America, of modern- swing — the lat- 
ter with special gusto. Young' aind 
old. -went for. his music in a big way 
on openinjg night, the oldsters, for 

:the waltzes and the yburigsters for 
the jive. ■: 

Band's mxisic is a' nice blending bf 
."Wind arid istring. although the brasses 

. were a little heavy at opener be-^ 
cause Bardbi like every leader who 
comes to Blue Room, has difficiiltty 
at first toning it. dbwh, to size bf ' the 
room. Combo, also provides excel- 



lent background for the sihbw. Boys 
in the groupi are also versatile^ ih 
putting across gag niimbers .as part 
of floor show. ; , 

. Topping acts Mbrton Downieyi- 
who cbntributeis several familiar 
American, ballads of .other years and 
reaped plenty of palm ' pounding 
from- first pighters, But wheri he 
sang, ..'When Irish Eyes. Ai-e Smiling,' 
crowd barely would let him go. . 
. Esther. Todd, looker with nice 
pipes,' ;W.orks easily- arid - sells a 
song. . Menibers. of band join in 
choruses and novelty tunes for. good 
change; of paice. . Daf lehe Walder,, 
acrobatic dancer,; does a number of 
nifty routines to. get nice hand. . Ori 
Pesci, handsome .Vfarbler, clicks with 
his singing. Femmes go for him. ih 
big -way. ..' ■■■ 

As a dance - team, : Maurine' and 
Norva step into originality by; ap- 
pearing in Argentine costunnes of the 
plains intead of the usiial formal iat- 
tire.; Tbeir Latin routines Sniack of 
the. rea; -thing and they click 
strongly .Pair left crowd ^aisking fbr 
more after a cbnga lehcore. ;> 

. Doing swing arid swieet with equal 
ease," Bardo's band had little trouble 
keepmg the dance floor crowded be- 
fore and after the show. : Liuzza. 

liYNck'S, PHILLY 

:. ' :(WAL*rQN'.HbTEL).'. 

Philadeiphifl. Dcci 26, ■. 
; . Bob Russell, Lee'. Lambnt, Gracie 
George, Paul LeJ?oul, Patricia King, 
Chaney and Fox, House Line (14) ; 
Neil Fontaine Orch 0.5); August 
Sanahia's , Rhumbd Band (6) ivith 
Felicia, Lou Morrisoji, ■'■ Nino Ndnni, 
Helene Heath, Siisan Lang, Rochelle 
Gprdon, Vera Niva; No Covers J/o 
Minimurn. . .. '; 



.. Plenty - of life for the holiday 
trade in this week's offerings at Jack 
Lynch's. Walton Hotel Roof; Al- 
though he iis still sticking to the no- 
name policy, Lynch's; show has 
plenty of talent and entertainment. 

Standout- act is the hobflrig dub of 
Chaney and .Fox, longtime Philly 
faves making their umpteenth re- 
turn, here. The couple feature a 
Cakewalk to the tune of 'O, Dem 
Golden Slippers' Which is .the theme 
of Philly's New Year's Day Mum- 
mers' parade. The team's entire 
repertoire has plenty of zing; Among 
their steps are everything from waltz 
to..,boogie-woogie, plus a sock take- 
off of the Castles' 'Texas Tommy.' 
The tempo of the rest of the bill 
is also geared to festive spirit! Grace 
George (New Acts), the latest 'find* 
bf Al Siegel, knows : how to' sell a 
song. • ■., 

: Paul Le Paul's magi act is still 
one of the best in the riitery fields 
He doesn't takie the legerdiethain- 
biz Seriously ' and. his . clowning 
catches: on With the aud. Best trick 
in his bag. is changing a live canary 
iritb a corsage. Lee Lamont does her 
usually good job bf tap-terping. 

Patricia King, a brunet looker 
who's being gandered by pix scouts, 
does a coiiple of modern dance num- 
bers and one with maestro Neil Fon- 
taine. . Bob Russell, longtime hold- 
ever, m.c.s handily besides, givihg out 
with .sevei-al ba.ritone numbers, the 
best bf them being 'Donkey Sere- 
nade,' 'America I Love You' arid 
'Wagon Wheels.' Russell also leads 
the community sing that is the flriale 
of. the .SO-minute show. 

The house line appears in three 
production numibers, beautifully, 
gowned, and well executed. In keep- 
ing with the Christmas Spirit is the 
openirig number in which the gals 
appear as nuns, holding candies with, 
the entire company singing Yuletide 
carols frorifi backstage. 
; ■ Fontaine's band, going into its sec-:, 
ond year here,, is how a smart, tune- 
ful aggregation. Its arrangements 
by pianist Eddie De Luca, ex- 
symphony . key-pounders; . are ear- 
soothing, both during the show, and 
for : dancing. The relief band, Saha-: 
bia's rhiimba sextet, fills in neatly 
with Felicia, a Latin looker, handling 
the south-of-the-bbrder vocalizing. . 

Lou , Morrison and Nino Nanhi 
bang the ivories in the -cocktail 
lounge/ with Helene Heath, Susan 
Lbrigi : Rochelle ; G'prdon arid Vera 
Niva (ioirig the; chirping. ; Shah . 



m FOtUES' HEADS 



Unit Reviews 

Revue Iiiteriiationale 

. (Continued from page 36) . 
'South American Way.' 'Beside^ put- 
ting the,: accent on some revealing 
costumes designed by Francis - Pal- 
lester, this- numbef marks vaiide 
debyt .of Spanish .team bl}led as 
Manuela Del Rip and: Alberto Torres. 
They are riot. .bnly unique- but .ex-; 
trabrdinary in doing a native daiice 
^yith; clicking: castanets. \Althbugh 
starting klowiy. they work up. to a 
fascinating pitch in . vivid rhythms 
that have: an air of Spanish authen- 
ticity. .■ ■ .^ . '. 

Truzzi is a Latiri juggler 'Who: does 
best by. manipulating glass globes on 
wand, between teeth or. phos- 
phoresdent balk in dark. Missed tbp 
often here bri balls thrown frorii 

audience Top: hits of the shindig 

are Nonchalants,> trio of' knbckaibout 
acrbbats whb nearly slap each.bther 
silly • to cop ; a :iaugh, which they 
usually get. . Boys are clever: in ef- 
fortless strbng-mari stuff, too. 

Singing Maririies; returnirig ; for 
finale , in blue, uniforms, look too. 
rnuch like chprus boys, but corny 
touch is taken' off. by hearty singirig- 
bf 'God Save America' .as showgals 
Whip , up flrst-rate precision taps, in 
red, white and iJlue costumes.; En- 
tire effect has a terrific patriotic wal- 
lop that is more the result of high 
professionalism in production values 
than anything else. In that respect,: 
as well as in extiravagarice 'of set- 
tings, it's far superior to the ordi- 
narjr vaude road show. . JPulicri. 

MIDNIGHT IN MIAMI 

(B|M>ABWAY, CHARLOTtiB, N; C.) 



Charlotte, N. Q., Dec. 13. 
: Newrnari: Btosj, .Kohn i&. DePintb, 
Joe : WcGfOth. and Jack Dieds, fait 
arid Boorie; The Rossini Troupe (4)',' 
The Miamiettes ilO), Harry Shdri- 
non's Band (5).; 'Jennie' iZOth). 



'Midnight in Miami' is ah excep- 
tionally well-balanced unit of high- 
calibre . acts combining dancing,; 
comedy, . -Wire acrobatics, sorigs apd 
instrumental : acts.-.; Though no 
single act cbuld rate as sock, the 
total effect is distinctly pleasing. 

Helen Taf t -and Marvin Boone, 
tap team, open "with an. above aver- 
age routine, highlighted by a revue 
of rage dances of the past two 
decades, .including Charleston, Suzie 
Q .and others, culminating in a nifty 
jive nuriiber. ;• The; act is accoriti- 
pariied by ;pbetic patter which adds 
interest. -Newman Brbs. ' follow in 
comedy turn that is spotty, with a 
few clever gags. On the whole, 
though, ' it's rather weak. 

Mahnie Kbhh and Jimmy Depinto 
do an instrumental turn tops . in 
showmanship. Kolin plays fiddle 
and DePintb aiccordion. Although 
he does a lot of mugging, Kohn 
really sells a hot fiddle. Turn moves 
fast -with both members working 
hard to please. ■ Best renditions are 
Twelfth Street Rag', and *St; Louis 
Blues.' Attempt to get audierice 
participation on singing old faves 
failed to click. ; 

. Joe McGrath and; Jack Deeds are 
pleasing iri a singing . turn. Both 
vaude vets, McGrath is a tenor and 
Deeds . a bass and the combination 
goes over wfeir. . . They pipe such 
standards as 'Lonesome Road,' .'After 
I'm Gone' and 'Old Man River.' 
McGrath -impersonates a . sick, 
neglected wife in a . domeistlc .skit 
that packs laughs. The Rossini 
troupe, brothers ' and sisters act, is 
exceptionally good in -the wire-per- 
forming department. Members of 
the troupe jump rope,' dance, do 
splits and other acrobatics on wire 
that make for smooth, arid fastrinov- 
ing act. 

Line; on four times, is impressive 
in opener, a neat turn : with tennis 
racquets, illuminated for lighting 
effects, and In . a patriotic military 
revue flrially. ; Line apoears well- 
trained and is strong, on looks. Nifty 
cbsturiiing also enhances. ' Unit 
doesn't use ari eincee; Harry Shan- 
non's band plays from stage . and 
blends in nicely bn acts, with' ex- 
ception of. playing top .loud on one 
■vbcal,. .. . 

House did fair biz,: ; Just, ':. 

Internaltiohal Casino 



, Pittsburgh^ bee. 3L ; 
• 'Ice Follies' . is doing. .s^irisationaHy 
here at Gtarderis arid .' will'- knock 
down close to $70,000 fbr ll--.per- 
i forriiances. - That's alin.Ost $5,000 'bet- i 
Iter than rink revue did X^as^^ week 
•last year; wh.!en its engagement was. 
rtwo days longei*; Shbw opened Xma-s 
f night and will ruri: through Thurs-.; i 
'. day: .'(2), .with " bne matinee and Ne.w j. 
[ Vear's Eve extra includedj and re- | 
i mainihg performances V are .praCr. 
" tically sellouts. 

■ . .'Ffallies' will corne back to Gardens 
next spring for- another, week's stay. 
Troupe moves from ;.here to Phila- 
: dolphin Friday (3) for.a nine-day cn- 
'.gagemeri't,;.';'.: ' . ' ■ ■ - 



Bobby Morris Co. {iV^ Chicik.and 
Lee,:The De Oros, Martin and Allen, 
Al Gordon, ■ Betty Lfitdley, Lee 
Kelson, Whitey's ■.Harvest . Moon 
CHarhpions (6), Line; (U); Henry 
Ciiicione House Orch;: 'No, No. 
Nanette' (RKO). 

Harry Howard has jrevampe.d his 
iHolly wood Hotel Revue,' now :blb.s-' 
soriiirig forth under a new.tag. /E-v- 
erythihg considered, unit is among 
best to: play this territory, bijt it is 
obvious- the b.o. will suffer 'from lack 
of big or even fariiiliar names. -Re- 
taining : the .better prpdUttion. ffea-* ^ 
.tiires of the. original! show mov.es 
with exccedirigly . fas,^ paie despite ^ 
riumerous rough spots still needing i, 
the iron.. ^ -' ■ '-I 

The Chester Hale Line is the top 
feature. Gals are air lobkei".">, like- 
'wise b.kay :. hoofers. Costumes - and 
scenery, eriipha.sized by tHck lightr 
Ing effects, are impressive. Feature } 
dan<iing acts, the Spanish De Orbs, I 




Acti Startil. E 




TIVOLI, B'KLYN 



June St. Glair, Elconpt ..Shetidan, 
Paulrt ; . Litid, Sunya Slane, Charlie 
Countryi Jack' BuckVey, Floyd Hal- 
liceyi' iGartetc Price, Lenore & 
Charles, Eight^BHovigxrls,'!!. Ponic?. 

: Burlesk policy, ait this house Is 
riew, but the two-hoUr ,presehtatibri 
by Allen Gilbert is the same old 
burley doled out in the usual rdta- 
tioij of strip, skit, dance arid repeat. 
Ari; atteriipt: is made to bfeak ■■ it tip, 
also per usual, ; with tapi sequences in 
one by-a :malie hoofer, but this does 
little to disturb the regular sequence. 
Show's strorigest appeal -lies in the- 
costuming and . dressing pf the' vaii'- 
ous pfbductibn riumbers staged by' 
Gilbert.' 1 Several of them: garnered 
spbntanebus applause when caught 
last show opening night (Friday ). 

Tivoli is a former vaude stand 
more recently operating under a pic- 
ture policy. It's a fairly large . hbuse 
as burley Stands go, seating, approxi- 
mately 1,600 .upstairs and; dbwn. . It's 
in the .sariie : rieighborhbod as- the 
Ray-mond Bros*' Star theatre, which 
has been, serving Brbbklyh .bur- 
lesque-goers for years.. . Tivoli -/gels 
65c top for boxes, 55c downstairs 
and 39c bri the shelf. : 

Peel section is headed by June 
St; Clair, who's oil last,and. rates the 
top spot. She uses ai .tiiriely spiel in 
verse re the tendencies of soldiers, 
which accounts for the colorful cos- 
tuming along military lines. Wears 
a red cape with epaulets, • etc, . Her 
strip is smoother and done with 
more finesse thari those contributed 
by her coritemporaries, Eleanor 
Sheridan is on first and wastes a lot 
of: time before getting down tb the 
basic idea for being oristaee. She's 
well equipped for, her calling. ; . 

Sunya Slarie is mor^ ariimated. 
She's a : mild edition of Georgia 
Sothem, employing the same arm- 
swinging, forceful walk and bumps. 
Audience approval is urimistakable. 
Paula Lind is a slim: redhead who 
seems to put more thought into her 
strut Her peel is accompanied, by 
strenuous grinding and bumping. ^ . 

None of the peelers go beyond 
bead ornaments, being content with 
slipping brassieres for a quick peek 
before slipping into the wings. 
Cover-up attitude is noticeable in the 
line, too. Not once are the ponies 
asked to bare anything; but a limb.^ 
Of the . eight showgirls only: one, 
featured Bobbie Drake,, goes as far 
as the strippers in . uncovering. 
. Coniedy by Charley Courtnev and 
Ja'ck: Buckley is weak, though the 
delivery of , the two seems able 
enough. All of the skits they use, 
some of which are fariiiliar and 
others vice versa, are straighted 
by Floyd Hallicey. Tb open "the 
laugh segments they use the thread- 
bare 'I Want a Baby' biz using Paula 
Lind and Eleanor Sheridan. Two 
girls work elsewhere "with the laugh 
getters also, . . 

Lenore and Charles, adagoists, fit 
into one of the later line routines. 
Their lifts arid spins are unexciting. 
Routine includes nothirig outstanding 
and occasionally the exiecution be- 
comes ragged. Unbilled tap dancer, 
who may be Garrett Price (front 
office doesn't know) tosses in 
monotonous work in two or three 
slots. ' His taps never seem to vary 
from one try to the other. His last 
insertion late in the layout is accom- 
panied by drumming ori. a; chair, 
Only thing prof essibnal about that' 
is the. use of regulation drumsticks. 

Wood. 



Waterbtiry Burley Back 

; Waterburyi.Cbrin., Dec. 31. 
Burlesque is back at the Jacques 

hefe^- ■■ ■ 

. Waterbury;. .iaridrriark's " cu^^^^ 
shpwing..^ Louise.. 'Stewart's troupit, 
twb-a>day, at 77g: topi< .' - ■ 



and the Harvest Mopri jittetbugs, get 
by— no more. .■ •■ . ' 
. .Chick and Lee- steal laurels from 
chief comic: Botiby. Morris.; Debunk- 
ing some of the radio people, the. 
bbys with realistic jmperSoriationS 
are solid clicks. . Morris garriered a 
fair share bf laughs in blackouts.' Is 
haridicapped by necessity . of keep- 
ing humbr ; out of gutter, the blue 
pencil . killing his offering to such ari 
extent that he frequently Ipoks bad. 
: AV Gordon; arid his dogis as usual 
are more than OK. Martin, and Air 
len have a typical acrobatic-muscle 
turn.^ Baritbne .Lee Kelson displays 
fine; pipes -in production nuiribers, 
biit. riewcpriier .Betty Dudley; bb- 
•viously -• still Suffers . frorii . riiike 
fright,, .FinalCi building , from the 
Ziepfeld-type. tableau into a ;;Shbw- 
bbat' setting via a quick ;6n-stage 
change, is ■ strong. 
Business at show caught prily fair 
'' Sans. 



:■. San li'raricisco,' Dec. 31. ; 
.New Chinese ;nitery: opened, .here' 
Friday: (B*?) in ah effort to cash in on 
the gravy beirig collected by -theiForr. 
bidden . Cityi home -of • the first Ori- 
ental strippen. ::'Wrhat's' more, the new 
spot, the Irion's , Deri, .op,era.ted by 
Tommy lio'ng,. signed- up the TbrbidV, 
den City's .talent and thereby Iporiis' 
a battle. .. • ' 

: As- near as Occidentals can. figure 
it out, .Charley: Low, pf ; Forbidden 
City, neglected to sigh his fipbr show 
tb contracts; . whereupon Torig talked.- 
Nbel Toy, stiripper, arid fbtir line girls' 
into John Hancbckirig. ori; the dotted, 
line. ■ The. Mei Lings, classical d,aner' 
ers, reifused to be teriapted. - Low,' 
alarmed at (he loss bf his mbney- 
making stripper, hastened to prbdyce 
a contract pi his own with -which he . 
assertedly pacted Noel .for;,. a' f pur-' 
■\yeek .period.-: v:^ .'.! •: .•■ 

With Mlss Tby billed to appear iri 
both spots simultaneously, "TOng went 
to court to halt Low from getting his 
stripper back, claiming contractual 

priorityv;;:.;;- ■"■ ■ ■;; 

'. Biz has beeri' so terrific at Lowfs. 
Forbidden City since its, recent Life 
rhag break that extra shows have had 
to be -added.:'.. Dancirig now; starts; 
early as ,7:30, .with the Chinese floor 
show grinding at jB:30, H:;p.m. arid 
.1 a.in. - ■ - \ 



BEN RILEY'S INN jUi^^ 
283G; UiUHLlTiEl 837G 

Ben Riley Estates,; iric., operators 
Saratoga, N. Y., which filed a volun- 
tary petition of barikruptcy In the 
New York federal court last week, 
filed ischedules Thursday (26) show- 
ing assets of $283;i42 and liabilities 
of $837,332. 

During the week Louis Fischer Was 
appointed receiver by Judge Henry 
Warren Goddard and a three-man: 
creditors' cbmmittee was appointed. 

Of the assets, $248,842 is real es- 
tate, while equipment, flxtutes and 
furniture ate worth $32,000. Only 
secured claim on the liability end is 
the $318,8Ci0 claim by the Chase Bank,, 
while unsecured creditors total. $496,> 
306. Most of the money oweii is' to 
Ben C. Riley personally, on -Iparis. 

Mosic Muff Threaten^ 
.Chmp on Cieve^ Joints 

Cleveland, Dec. .31.. 

Because most riitery owners forgot 
all about a little matter of expiring 
music perriilts, about 200 joints were 
threatened with shutdoWns on New . 
Year's Eve by Charlie H, Bringman, 
city inspector of music. 

Exactly 400 licenses r'ari but on 
Dec. 31. Up to Sunday (29) half pf 
the prpprietofs of niteries, ciafes and 
beer-stubes had neglected pr ignpred . 
official requests for renewals. In- 
censed inspector said he was going 
to get toUgh about it and would take 
a S(l)uad of cops albng on the big 
night to shutter eyery offender whb 
hadn't kicked across' .with $5 for; a 
six month music perriiit 

With tool-making plarits and some 
of the country's key-steel factories 
here golrig full blast for war or^eirs, 
impressarios looked forward to a; 
bPbm Eve :busiriess. Orders for ad- 
vance, reservations went way' over 
last year's mark in, iaill downtown 
spots, with hotels' reporting early. 
sell-outSi ' ■ :'.,• '■ ' 



Tsfix MagicbS* Bcioze 
IVicks in Di^ 



: - -: ■ Jackson, Misis., pec. -SL 

A magician in this state may 
snatch rabbits 'from his hat is long 
as he. wishes; . but if he has any cock- 
tails in his top-piece he had better 
kieep' them . there, ; Assistant Attbr- 
rtey-perieral Edwin.Holnries, Jr., has 
held: that Mississippi's borie-dry hard", 
liquor statute: prohibits the ' use of 
intoxicating beverages jn . a ;magi- 
jcian's .trick-/ ' ;.. . -'^ ':[-:.."... y\ 
.The ruling was' in. answer; to '"a 
questiori- frprii C. Jarii'es -. McLeMbre 
of ind ianapblis, Irid., attorney ' for the : 
Internatioriai ; BrotherhPod of. Magl- 
ciariSi A similar ruling was recehtly. 
passed in .Tennessiee,;- 
; It chiefly affects such petformers 
as Think*.a-Drink;'Heffmari,. should 
he be boPked in eithfer., state. 



S8 



HOUSE lUS¥iEWS 



Wednesday, January. J, 1941 



STATE, N. Y. 



Jay C. FUppen; Six. Honeys, Alice 
Marble, Dorpthy- Stone, and Charles 
Collins; Pcgpu Bernier, Rti\)y Zwerl- 
ivg: Hoiise Orchi 'Thiief of Bagdad' 



This bill, bridgies . the two .holidays, j 
so that (;vcn^,if . it isn't , so forte the ' 
State's ciastoriiers, ■reacting . to the 
mood of the period, woald >e ex"-: 
pected tb treat the proceedings ihr 
dulgently. They did . at. , the pcr- 
formante cauRht Thiirsday (26), 
There were few .outbursts '. of . cii- 
thusiastn. and even Alice Marble, 
who for the ovcrwhelrfiirig majority: 
prescft't rniist have represented little; 
other . than a spor'tspiiBe headline, got 
away nicely, with her expressionless 
service of sfeveral ppp times. ..Booked 
apparently for what was assayed as 
name value; Miss . lyiarble, who re- 
cently . alsa turned tennis prbfes- 
siohal. incurs the ^idmiratibn pf .Athe 
State's Wimbledon ..set. iirtOre for helf 
courage in crashing a .new itiediuni 
than foi* . her aptitude. She's i;e-. 
vieiyed inorc ext'ensiyely under New. 
Acts in;Thea tires. ; 

Ji£/ .riippen ringinasters the-.run-; 
oft in shipshape manner and gets- in: 
more than brie good lick, at the mid-: 
sectors. Only time . that he steps out 
of his m.c. role is during Peggy 
Bernier's routine,, and the quality 
and quantity of his antics tend to 
step, up- the ehterwiniheht ,qf hef act 
. Iri" a big waj<' ■.-.^'T.- -. ■: 

Opening .honors - go td the Six 
Honeys an<f ithisf team of whirlvvihd 
acrobatsv Xevenly mixed) makes it' 
exciting throughout,. Their series bf 
shoulder-to-shoulder jurnps are,., as 
ever, the sock, climax tb a .hpdg^-; 
podge of tapping, turhblirig arid.pyra- 
mid bJilancing items. - Miss Marble 
fills . the next inning. Her singinig 
stance is stolid; -. Her voice is. xon- 
tralto tiit hardly flexible, arid .. :h,cr 
fair looks and Back Bay accent cbtn- 
plpte the portrait of a- iiersohality 
that has stepped f tom the sports sei:- 
tiori ta the amusement ipage >yithlim- 
' ited ciiuse or preparation. 

Dorothy Stone arid Charles Collins 
take over next for some rhythmic 
adagio stepping along , strictly , in 
terptetative lines. They register 
Btrongly. : Two numbers that stand 
out brightly are their 'Lullaby by 
B r a h m s * arid . 'AU-Americai 
liomance.V Peggy Bernier's singing 
shenanigans prove good for a con 
sistent stream of laughs and despite 
this the Three Sailors; who follow 
her, mop up on still a noisier scale 
The !trio*s brand of slapstick plus 
Miss Bernier's hoydienish comedy 
combine to apply a strong finish to 
an otherwise inamby-pamby bill. The 
two acts, at least send 'em away 
laxighing.* \ ■ Odcc. 

ORPHEUM, MPLS. 

Minneapolis, Dec. 28. 
Ccnc'. Krupd Oreh (.16), Howard 
DuLany,: The Aliens (4), Irene Day ^ 
Paul Remos (3)» Johnny Woods; 
':SouthofSuez',{y/B), 

Bringing 'erii the Krupa* outfit, 
iSarita; Claus' h^s come through nobly 
for the local hepcats and jive hounds, 
The hiot swing fans couldn't have de 
sired a more a(icej)tabl.e gift. And 
the fact that it's Krupa's initial trip 
here makes the present all the more 
welcortie. The three acts backing 
up the band are familiar here, but 
each is; a topnotcher in its line and 
bears . occasional repetition, ' even 
though routines remain unchanged 

Krupa himself, of course, rates 
head and shoiilders above any; of the 
drummier men who have visited 
these parts. What's more, his band; 
is a superior organization ia its field 
and, with high musical skill and. 
sterling arangements, it provides 
syniiopated rhythrii which is ultra in 
quality. ' 

, Besides toiling strenuoiisly ort the 
drums, Krupa proves a polished and 
striooth emcee and also handles- the 
baton with assurance, but riot to the 
degree where the. ctistoriiers become 
fed up. Arid the;; lively , rhythm, 
sets .a fast pace for the entirie show. 

Natiarally, . most: of the arrarige- 
ments: are: designed to set olt .Kriipa's 
di:Ummfng; and they: serve Itheir purr; 
pose admirably.' Vocalist Howard 
DULany and Irene pay fit in nicely. ' 

. 'Tiger Rag', is a hot starter ; with 
Krupa'pbunding the druriis.^ The at- 
rangernentS; aire interestingly : differ- 
ent and colorful for. air the. striking 
bandihuriibers. ; . : 

The AUeris comprise' two fast step- ■ 
ping hiixed cbuples-HJrldsters and.; 
youngsters, . The elderly man arid 
woman again iamaze with their ^clogr ; 
ging, ; jigging ar\,d other dance irbu- 
tines arid they bririg dowa the house 
when they join the b6y;,and girl for 
some real jitterbug stuff, 
trast of . the modern 'and. old-time 
iiodflng;lends novelty tb ; the offei;ing. 

'Ki-iipa goes intp S frenzy of drum- 
. iriirig during", the primi/lve 'Blue 
Rhythm Stomp,!. 6 .ripvel and. excit- 
ing fantasy. Each musician, has a 
small drum of his own isnd joins in 
the thuriiping. It's the; band's ;put- 
standing: nuriiber. 

Miss; Day is good to look at and 
listen to attd she scoi;es with such 
pop vocal nUiribers as 'Thete l. Gp' 
and 'Drummer Man/ She and Du- 
Lany combine for two -duets, 'Our 
T\ou» Affair' ancT 'Call of tHii Can- 



yon.'; DuLariy also singles earlier 
with 'For You,' dorie nicely. , " 
; Paul Remos once more stops ;the 
show-here with his personable riiid- 
gets, constant applause punctuating 
the balancing feats, turi:ibling and 
acl"obatics. .- ;. . . ■ 

Krypa and the.band land heavily 
<with . 'Airieric£in Bolcrp,', $Wirig; that 
attains a classical ...tbiich. Johnny 
■ Woods, ji local fa:'vprij.e, jumps f rorn 
; one ..radio" impression ■into another 
at a brojith^lcss . pace and has the 
tu.stomers. alternately a'maze'd at the 
i milntioh.s' . authenlifcity; 'Wire Brush 
Stomp' is appropriately lively for a 
band fiiii.sher.; . 

. A .wcll-liflcd. low.cr floor even at 
the last show ChVistmas eVe, Reesr. 



EARLE, PHILLY 



STRAND, B'KLYN 



Geofge While's '5ca7idals' tui(h 
Bch Blue, Billy Rai/es, Ross- Wy-se,; 
Jr.. and Jjine Mann, Kiin Loo Sisters, 
Mildred Fenton, Christine Fbrisythe, 
Margdt Sistfts; 'that Cong! bf Mine' 
(Mono),. Reviewed in ;this issite of 
VAniETV. 



Phjladclphiia, Dec. 27/ . 
■ Lorry Clinton ' Otch .(14).' .with 
Terty Allen, JiniMy Ctirrie ' ond 
Peggy Mann; Jack Sey'ihour and Kay 
Picture, Borrhh Minieuttch Hdr- 
montca RascdU (8) ; 'Ybtt'U Find.OitV, 

" .Fare for' the -Jive addicts is ipad-^ 
ing 4own-th€(.- bill- at the Eair-le^fCTfe: 
and aft; With eUriton's crew in the. 
flesh arid ;Kay Kyser s on the screen; 
the lads and lassies who like their 
music are getting their money's 
.worthi - ■ ■ ,,. ; : . " ^ -■ 

ciintori iarid his boys operied tpday 
(Friday) after a : hectic .trij) frPm 
Indianapolis ih .'which their- plane 
was downed by ;-fog. They ^ arrived 
h:ere: too late lor rehearsal, missing 
toe first Show, this riiorning entirely." 

At this catching the .band shbWed 
the effects of this kind of existence,; 
being a bit pffi in its' .timing in ac- 
companying lacts and vocalists. ■ 

Band, is hacked by a rich, white 
satin backdrop which, lights up' 
vividly tb vari-colored' spots. Gliritbn 
tn.as the. show iand f rflnts-.band nurn- 
bers;.. playing clarinet, trumpet, and. 
troinbone iri turri. 

Standbut/huinber is a medley of 
Clinton . ^coritpositions, . including 
'Reverie,' . "Satan . Takes a . Holiday' 
and his latest. 'Study iri Surrealism." 
Jimmy Gurrie clicks with his hoke 
vocals on 'Night arid Day' and 'Well 
AUright.' Gurrie's dead-pan clown- 
ing is guffaw-producing biz. 

Terry Allen baritones, nicely with 
'Down Argentine Way and 'Only 
Forevet/ while femriie chirper'Peggy 
Marin is a bouncy, bnmet: looker 
with riice pipes. She shows her ver- 
satility on;'OurLove' and the jumpy 
•Five O'clock Whistle.' ' ;; 

The.Borrah Minevitch harmonica 
lads, sans Borrah, are their usually 
entertaining selves, with the midget 
and his pantoriiine still copping top 
honors. - 

A surprise treat Is the hoofing of. 
Jack Seymour and Kay Picture; .The 
male half of . the team is one of ;the 
smoothest terp-tappers gandered 
here for some time. The duo have 
tricky routines, . With the. happy 
faculty of making their_most difficult 
steps appiear siriiple. . 
; Biz On Friday night was off. 

Shal. 



TOWER, K; C. 



Konsos, City, Dec. 28i 

Starr dn^ Lee, Lew. Hdffntan, 
Morid Leslie, Frances and Wally, 
Lester Harding i \ D U m i c 6 and 
Rhoades,' House Line, Herb Six 
House Orch; 'Melody Ranch' {Rep). 



; Long' pri; the . road, Ge6rg6' White's'; 
teb' 'iScandaLs' unit was specially 

bopked for the Strand, Brooklyn, by 
Warner Bros, as a holiday attrac- 
tion. It Opened Christmas day and 
remains through New Year's day (1), 
with house then going back to double 
iEeatures; Burden of the draw falls, 
upon, the stage unit since, thie i>iclurc 
booked in with it;. 'That. Garig of 
■Mine' .(Mono) is in the featherweight 
division.' A ■ better 'film for b.b; pur- 
poses would have seemed rhore ad- 
visable.. Ori the other harid. 'Scan- 
dals' unit slipuld riot disappbintariy- 
where.: , . ■■ ..^ ;; ';-;-; 

Iricideritally, it conies tb Greater 
N. Y. the week that White debuted 
his Great White Way, new Broad- 
'way^' nitery. • ... ■.. -;■ - 

- White's unit; iruris a littlie .ow an 
hour..-AlthpugH,it has played; a. sub? 
stantiai ; nuriiber of k^y , cities frbm 
<;jpast to Coast, it is scemcaliy about 
as fresh' as a daisy, this, also going 
for the costumes. It seemingly has 
been refurbished. 

Nicely staged, with the .ri^umbers 
arid routines woven tpgether '.tor ex- 
tremely riice- pace arid lirictiprt, the 
unit achieves a pretty high degree 
of entertainment. In addition, to a 
line of 10 girls, there, are three show 
girls, handsomely costumed, who aidd 
to- the color. ; They are worked into 
various. Ifrbduction numbers and con^ 
tribute vocally Vto^ the proceedings. 
-Twb theme riiiriibers figure through; 
Qut,;*iAre You Haviri' Any Fun?' arid 
'Goodnight. My Beautiful.' Produc 
tibn consideration is . also .given 
'Mexicoriga.v Among other things, 
the three showgirls work a strip 
tease gag' that is a fooler;, dummies 
being, used for chassis. 

Ben Bluei who,- was Iri the'; last 
'Scandals- revue ori Broadway a year 
ago; tops the cast. He is in and out 
of the unit frequently land figures in 
two comedy sketches that get laughs, 
one that is a bit burlesquey but riot 
too rough. Another . is built, around 
Madame' Dti Barry who bests, all 
;iovers exqepting Blue. . The comic's 
burlesque of a Russian dance is .also 
sockful. 

: Billy Eayes, ;ione in clrcuiatlon, 
Works iri one with nis jugglirig, talk 
arid Iriipressioris; He scores very 
well.- Ariother malie on the show is 
Ross Wyse, Jr.; He yocals, singing 
the lealdmg riuinbers, and aLso works 
on comedy material with Blue, Wyse 
also has a jazz-yersus-classical musi<; 
sequence in which he's fbir Tin Pan 
Alley, this being with June Mann 
who solos shortly after the. opening of; 
the unit: Miss Marin has a nice, catchy 
voice, something that's also .true of 
the other single siriger, Mildred Fen- 
ton, who .figures in .the v'Mexiconga' 
number "farther down; ; 

. In the 'Mexicoriga' portion ; Chris 
tine Forsythe offers a tap: single 
scoring effectively. The Kim Loo 
Sisters, four Orientals, are in and 
out : of . the action from the start, 
lending color ^vih their singirig. They 
are cutely costuriied and make nice 
appearances. Another turn is the 
Margbt Sisters, doing an acrobatic 
darice that, is more aero than danc 
ing but plenty surefire; Chdr; 



arid while she has some heat 5teps, 
needs polishing. The third . winriec 
is Virgil Harris, a Negro lad, and his 
baritonirig of 'Old Man RiVcr' is brie 
of the highlights. Youngster riiay go 
places if he falls into the right hands. 

Iri the; next slot Osborrie . biatons 
the lads through a condensed version 
of a classic and the customers ate 
it up. -He had a hard time ; jstilling 
the payees to briiig on Peggy Lee,: 
blonde featured vocalist .with his 
mob. In a' striking black silk everting 
gown , with a broad^' gold \vai$t band, 
the gal trills"Body . and Soul' arid 
had to. come back to do 'Exactly Like 
You' before- the customers would 
cease the. ipalm liQunding. . 

Beri Beri, coniiedy juggler,, . won 
heaps of giifTa'ws' with his; funny 
stuff, . featured by clever /mariipula- 
tio.ri oif three tanibourines.in addition 
to the rubber balls arid Indian clubs. 
Dale J[ories also tenors and with Dick 
Rogers, stcores with. 'Danriy Boy.'^ 
Osborne does a chorus With the pair 
and then iill of the topterslift therti- 
selves off their chairs: to: join ' . 
This ia . followed by ; Rogers doing 
Between 18th and ISth on Chestnut 
Street,^- V :' -.,;.V :. ' 

The hand iiext : does - zany inter" 
pretatibhs ; bt : Well knbWn : bands.; 
One 6t their best; stiirits conies next 
when they give, their yeirsibri of . a 
jazz hand of 2& years; ago; the wind- 
up. With poor .weather on tap biz 
was surprisingly good. ' Sahu. 



Title of 'Showboat Follies* sets 
this one with a stiitable background 
for -working the various acts into a 
fairly welUknit 45 minutes, TpWer 
has a headline act in Mbria Leslie 
and her strijppirig makes a total of 
four standard acts instead, of the 
usual three. With Miss L'eSlie taking 
a double turn and. three full" num- 
bers by the line, . the .. time ; is 
stretched slightly, arid to advantage. 

Theme is beguri nicely by the line 
in a polka reminiscent of the river- 
boat days, and Lester Harding takes 
over as skipper for the rest of the 
route. He brings Pn Barney Starr, 
whO; does, some coriiiic squeezing on 
the accordion while his giant" stooge,- 
Miss .Lee, chants the refrains. In; 
close; order. Lew Hoffman gefis a 
good share of laughs out of colliec-; 
tiori of tophats arid several jugglirig. 
bits.^ ' .-;• -S'V--^- .- :. ; -.-:;':■.■■■ 

.'Merry Widow* waltz by. the, line 
is a full number in itself, but seryes 
to iritroduce the iriitiai bit by Mona. 
Leslie.: She's On in ;bridal cbsturiie, 
but soon dpffs the gdwri to exhibit 
a rieat chassis. .Warding theri covers 
the frbntstage .arid rings but ; his 
baritone ^ on 'He's . My uncle* • arid- 
'America : 1 - Lb ve : Yoli'; f pr a .healthy 
round of iapplaUs"ev- ^ 
; Baton twirling :is attenipted With 
fair- success by. Dariiipo iana Rhoades,. 
Ann- winners of; the weekly am. contest. 
?t^l VCbmedy ;turh of terp and song is 
added by Frances and ; Wally, Jjilled 
as 'Broadway Hillbillies,- riiaking the 
riibst pf a slapstick rbUmba. Closing 
line nuriiber is a Cakewalk; in tpphat 
and tails arid they ; give way .tp the 
final Leslie strip.. . This bne . has a 
shade of artistry in . the huge satin 
shawl which she twirls before going 
to center stage: for the regular flash 
ending. .- ■; 

: 'Melody Ranch' is more than doing 
its part at the Voxoffice, and has 
some extra drawing pOwer locally 
as . the original story Is . from the pen 
of jack Mplffitt. Stat critic. Quin. 



FOX^ St. LOUIS 



St. Louis, Dec. 27. 
Dtcfc Rogets, .Peggy Lee, Dale 
Jones, Beri Beri, Gardner dnd Kane, 
Virgil Harris- Bemice Whitney, Lilly 
Garber, Will Osborne Orch (14). 
'Chad Hdnno' (20th). 



20TH CENTURY. BUF^^ 



ROXYi N. Y* 



Maria, and Floria, Maritfh: Beleit 
and English Bros, i2). Bob Ripa, 
Richard Finney, Gae Foster Girls, 
Paul. Ash. and Roxy . Orch; 'Chad : 
Hd7ina,' <20th) reuteiocd in •'Vabietv 
Dec. 20. V .■.■■•-.-; ' 



.. : - .- Butfdloi -Dec. 26. . 

A. B. Marcus* 'Continental. Reijuc' 
with Roberta Jondy;.: Spdrkey .Kaye 
dnd.Rblj^nd Rprnas, Fldgg .and Ariipld, 
Ruth Durrell,: George : Shreck, 
;Vf cGowan dnd; DWs, Dorothy. Coudy, 
Jigsaws, Hin Low, Leon Miller; 'Too 
Mariy Girls' {RKO). 



Farichpn Marco is ; parceling out 
the winners ofWie recent eliminatipri 
contest for native; talenV and the 
first three, p.lus : thei talent among, 
WilrOsborne's band.'hypbed by tWo 
independently booked acts, coristi 
tutes;, bne^ of the best stage . shows: 
that.has >heen:presented .at this 5,000: 
seater in midfown - since the resunip- 
tiori. of ;the; . vaudfllrii policy.-; two. 
fribnlhs. ago. .-Mairiageriient valso- has' 
slashed^ screeri fodder to one feature' 
iriistead - of the custoriiary pair; SeS- 
siori that extends through .65 minutes; 
riibves at a nice pace and - there . is 
enough variety to please anyone. 

With the ; curtain? closed Osborrie -s' 
lads.start'.their theirier, .'T'he Gentle- 
men Awaits.'- The baridv upon. . ex- 
posure. to view, goes into its second! 
riumber, 'Millibri Dreariis Ago,' aided, 
by npvel lighting; ; . . . ". ; ■. 

. Osborrie m;c.s and Intro duces 
Gardrier and Karie, an acrb-tap tearii;- 
During their first rbutirie Miss Gard;> 
ner 'does Sonie lofty kicking. ; After 
a costume chance she returns fPr a 
slick too-acro stint that won a strbrig 
response^ ^^She makes a third charige 
into, a sturining burgundy red . eve- 



ning goWn to wind up with Karie in 
an exhibition of nifty taps; Dale 
Jones, the biiir fiddler with the band, 
deserts his perch tp talk his way 
thi:biigh 'Nobody.' His sPuthern ac- 
cent arid cracked ypice wpn the mpb. 
Bemice Whitney, one of the winners 
in the contest. Is a. tiny gal but pos- 
sesses powerful' pipes. She socks 
over 'Five. O'clock Whistle.* LiUy 
tia^tier^ -ahother winner, i$'& tapstef; 



At the current 44c tariff, this IVlar-:: 
ciis epidernial' display is .a buiriper 
sock, full of glorified hurley aimed, 
right between the eyes bf .the jgam- 
andrgarter trade, an especially smart 
package ior the 20th Century to .de- 
liver to ; the ppst-Xmas . rush. ; Back 

in the U;. S. for its .first date after 
four months in Mexico City and Ha^- 
vana, where it was offered as a f uU- 
iengui show at $3 tofi, the. abbrevi- 
ated version presiented here shapes' 
up heavy on production and eye ap- 
peal^ long: on. talent in several de- 

Eartments atridMoaded with a .zirigy 
evy of choristers eye-filling enough 
to improve ; - Latbi-rAirierican rela-: 
tioni. 

What with the difficulties; of cut- 
ting the three-hour show to, an- hour 
and a quarter, and with the house 
orch wrangling sourly over the 
score, opening performances Xmas 
Day were a nightmare. A good part 
of the cast as originally billed Was 
missing (Spfla Alvarez out, with 
grippe) , arid with no announcements 
or programs available, cvery.*one was" 
forced to troupe strictly on his own. 
High content of entertainmerit. value 
assayed; is a compliment to the. per- 
sonnel, and for pic houses that can 
use this particular type of pre- 
sentation, the.show; offers the tmx} 
muni," - 

Roberta Jonay, in sarong, is on for 
a dance opening. Featured as -Mrs. 
Roosevelt's protege,' the. girl, on her 
attractive personality arid' showing, 
undoubtedly rates the billing. Time 
econoriiy keeps; her frorii more than 
a single appearance; Sparkey Kaye 
and Roland Romas carry the com- 
edy, assignments laboriously, with 
most of theiir material and treat 
ment smacking of burlesque. Their 
opening mike dialog, the old doc- 
tor's office bit (this time for draft 
examination), and the thread-bare 
poker game are line for line right 
out of the hurley book. . 

; Kaye with : his mute travesty of 
Cyril Smith's 'SoW Song,' assisted 
by the gramophone, proves he; is 
capable, of better comedy. Flagg and 
Arnold follow' with their nifty near- 
niJide slow hiption handbalancing 
stint. An unidentified tenOr disposes 
of . .'Angel'; In robust ;. voice, which 
segiies. into. the. ;inevitable . ovef- 
dreissed ■ sho'wgirl parade which fin- 
ally ' evolves into . a . stylized angel 
ballet, ' featuring Ruth Durrell as 
darice soloist George ;Shreck is on 
fpr a flash -.with some; nondescript 
lowbrow comedy and . Leon' Miller 
holds dpwn the principal male danc- 
ing sppts, his specialty dance iriiita^ 
tions; asisistirig greatly -.in the effeer 
tiveness of the runpff,;, 

;''Your; Lovely Hands,' spottirig Dor- 
othy Coudy,; is a; peak of. the per- 
formance. Illusion, of nude girl; 
weaving about in the - dark while 
shadow . hands caress various por- 
tions of her anatomy is socko in ef- 
fective suggestiveness. McGowan 
and his Tnree »I^uos, jitterbugs, 
raise the beat of the show' by their 
fast arid .furious legmania. Hin 
Low, . a young Chinese girl, knots 
up the proceedings With >some. facile 
cbntoHions :Which : eipproximate the 
ultimate in the limber- jointed de- 
partment. The Jigsaws add their 
slick comedy knockabout to the en- 
seriible for heavy laugh returns. 
'South American Way' by the entire 
company ' delivers a rhythmic, fast-, 
rinbving and. satisfactory finale. 
-- House jamined Xmas Day, with 
overflow* . : . .'Burton.': ■ 



The novelty In a Gae Foster darice 
routine, /based On phosphorescent 
costumes arid lighting, heads.a pleas- 
irtg. 'Royy . presentation this week, 
Fpsteretteis are outfitted in cbstumes 
which make therii appeal: as dancing 
skeletbns arid the. effect is height- : 
ehed, Via lighting, by the method 
of using them; It's eye-^fllling, only 
fault being . that the unispn wprk 
was~ a bit sloppy When .caught ,: 

'Nightingale Sang in; Berkeley ; 
Square*, serves to introduce. Mar ip 
and Floria with the help of the litie. 
Pair of ballroomologists step grace- 
fully to-; 'waltz tempos, executing 
their sprightly . conceived routines 
flawlessly. They do several nufn- 
bets, capping with a turkey trot of 
1912. Fpur numbers all told are a 
bit too long despite the duo!s ex- 
cellence. ■ :'; -.■';- 
' For comedy there's Marian Belctt 
and; the English Bros., a trio Which 
centers . its work around the antics 
of the girl. ; She goes to great lengths 
to succeed in getting guffaws, .work- 
ing herself into dQublarjointed pos.^ 
tures, getting herself slapped arouiid 
by the two boys and" generally im-; 
parting . an ierithusiasrii to the . turn . 
that, dots lifiuch . to. solidify it. Mqn - 
tap arid lock themselves^n 'various 
aero embraces. It's fast. 

Bob Ripa starts . his balancing .of . 
balls ori mouth-held sticks iri the 
oppriing Foster piece.: . A standard . 
turn. He runs: through the difficult 
tricks of balancirig rubber' spheres 
from all angles with ease. Payoft 
has .him.- teetering on. brie foot a 
ball on the iristep of the other, two 
ori wpoden. supports on forehand and 
chin and jiiggling a fistful of plates. 

Another . ; eye-catchirig Fosteretle 
routine, (closses. ■ It's, a winter scerie, 
boy's and girls costumed in colorful' 
red arid white costumes. They're on 
roUerskates, simulating blades, doing 
taps and executing military forma- 
tions -to 'I Aril An American.* , 

Runoff consumes approximately 40 
minutes. - • Wood. 



GOLDEN GATE, S. F. 



Sdi* Francisto, Dec, 25. 
Wancy Welford, George Beatty,; 
Ravet & Co. (2^., ..Ambassadorettcs 
(4) , ; Gilbert ond CorroU,. Phil o»id 
Dotty Phelpt, Maxine Turner, Peggy 
O'Neill House Line (12), Charlei 
Kaley. House Orch (12); 'No, No, 
Nanette' <RKO). : 



Novel highlight this week is spot- 
Ughtlng of Nancy Welford, original . 
Nanette of the. 1925 Coast production 
of 'No, No, Nanette,' as. a tie-in with; 
the current RKO screen version. 
Pliimp lass, .Who now presides at the 
jewelry cPunter in a Frisco depart-^ 
ment store; is still plenty cute and 
lands solidly iri the deuce spot with 
a medley of musical, comedy tunes, 
encPred. by ^Tea For Two.' 

Operiing aero spot this Week is 
filled by Phil arid Dotty Phelps with 
various balances; while the under- 
starid.er walks* up and dowri five 
steps. Closer, with, gal perched in 
.a chair balancetd by two legs bri a 
bar supported by a pole which the 
rriale half raises to his skull, is plerity 
tricky and had :the pewholders on 
seat-edge. In the trey are' Gilbert 
and Carroll, making their Western 
debut, a tall gal, in black and sil- 
ver, and her partner. They also use 
a set of steps, but for taps. 

Band breaks the show at. this 
point with -a racetrack novelty 
cooked up by Floyd Robertson, sax 
player. . "Trick arrarigement oit 'Light 
Cavalry' paves way for a gag. race 
with three band members as jockeys 
and Kaley doubling as a- spprtscaster. 
Routine wrhere the three horses 'gO 
into a spring dance had 'em scream- 
ing. " Idea is a pip and landed de^ 
spite -first-show roughness.- . At one 
fjbirit Kaley had to go clear off stage, 
to get a mike turned on. 

Four Ambassadbrettes are on next 
Gals, gowned in red, start biit as a 
dance tearii but quickly break axvay 
into a fast and furious exhibition; of 
turiibling, climaxing with a gag hcvi.' 
here. Two of the lookers grab a 
heavy rubber rope and.sriap it back 
and forth; across the stage at; high 
speed, trying to trip the ttimblefs; 
Pace of the bouncing cable "keeps 
the tempo ever Jricreiasing. As a 
peppy . flash, -the; femriies are toiJs, 
winning a terrific' ovation here. v. 
' George Beatty is riextTto-closing,- 
a single who; can .hold his oWn any- 
where.: With good voice arid {.easy 
persoriality, he can sell' a gag for the 
last oujice of giggle and got over 
big here with his reridition pf- 'Caie- 
less/ giagging radio coirtriiercials and 
imitation of a' drunken sailor. En- 
cored vvith 'I Married a Strip Tease 
Dancer,' but still had to beg ' off. 
. Riavel, magician, is- the. finalist ana 
plenty smooth, with stunts, which are 
hew or haven't been seen here in 
a .long time. ' Borrows ai- dpUar biU 
from the audience and It shows, up 
inside a walnut removed froni an 
egg takert from an orange.- .. 

Maxine Turner, doing a nifty acro- 
batic dance routine during the hpuse 
line's opening numbet, earns spon- 
taneous applause. ' " " Wem. 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 



UOVSE REVIEWS 39 



KEITH'S BOSTON 



Boston, Dcd; 26. 
George Riift toith Billie Adafns,.Gil 
arid Bernie. Mason,- Ted Lester,': De- 
Val; Merle arid Lee, Three Sioif ts,. 
Patricia Norman, Ted JWacJc, Larry 
Flint and House Ofch) 'Wh^re Did 
You Get . That Girl?' (U): , ' \ 

With a swell, hand-picked, bill supr 
jkjtting him; George. Raft cornes. in,. 

■ after'- seveiral years' absence, for- a 
■persohal. ' Without . thie naiirie . and 
fairif i Raft opuld hardly click . with 
the chatter and dancing . he offers, 
b^ut his fans are quite satisfied and 
evien- delighted just. to .see him bask 
in a Spotlight, ajiid mover arpiind tjie 

EtagCi. - • : 

Starts .oft . . rather .stiffly and 
mechanically with his introductory 
remarks' about being happy vto play 
Boston,' etc.) but .soDn slides into, the 
groove with a: line of chatter : that 
brings him intb .iptimate touch With 
his audience: Tronv then on every-^ 

' ihiri'g he does is okay With the <ans. 
. In f^ct he gets so. chummy that he 
lets the customers shout questions at 
hiih, and he pitrries them skinfuUjr^ 
including a query: .'How's Norma? 
(iShearet). .' . The answer to that; one 
wasi 'Pon't Know. Not. Miich!'- . 
: Billie Adam? . conies on late in the 

• act. lor • : a' rhumba- .whirl •.. with ■Uie 
fllrrister. following his solo ihuffle to 
'Sweet Georgia BrbWii' that featuires 
a bit of hipping. 
Larry Flint, regular house band 

. leader, opens the show with a special 
holiday oVertvire that got a good 
hand, along Awith the scenid effedts of 

■ snow-falling. . Then : he iritroes Ted 
Mack, who ■'- m.c.s and . conducts- for 
the acts.. MacTt is - very .capable iii- 
this icborci. bringing on the talent 
.'smoothly, contributing a little him- 
self- without milking. . 

. Gil and .Bernie . Mason are 
. good openets:.With their excellent 
trick .dog apt: A few new iwists 
added since Jast . around, . but . the 



laughs .are chiefly: based oil. the pups _^ 
performing the opposite :0f Whatilj 
thev are instructed to do. 
. .Three Swifts, next-to-clcse,, pavie 
vthe way nicely for: Raft in their slick 
cotnedy juggling . turn which ..re-: 
mains • unchanged but never,, grows 
stale. ,- . , .■: -: . ■■; 

More comedy Is delivered oy 
DeVal, Merle and:: Lee, one of the 
best and funniest ballroom trios in 
1he biz. . As usual, th^ fun .begins 
when the.two hien change coats and 
start tossing the i?irl across the staige, 
practically up to the ' prcscehium. 
The whole act is reheated and timed 
to "a fine. finish. ' • .: 
' Ted 'Lester; deuce,, clicks in his 
shoWihanly musical novelty . turn. 
Plucking from: under his cape ah 
amazing assortment of instruments, 
Lester keeps things hummihg With 
demonstrations on a harmonica 
(played, by blowing through , rubber 
tubing), a tiny fiddle: (played with 
right and left hand), ,ia minute guitar, 
a clarinet, a balloon, veto. 

Patricia Norman is so far ahead 
of the run-pf-mill songsters that she 
woiild stop- one of the, regular low- 
biidget .shows, that play here. She 
has no trouble jn earning an encore, 
'Rhumbobgie,' 'Night, and Day' artd 
'He's My Uncle' clearty demonstrate 
that.she can sen swing and ballads 
alike; :;and the medley encore, 
•Jealdlis,' 'Had To Be > You' and 
'Sugar Blues;' leaves 'em ' wanting 
more. All Miss. Norman's arrange- 
ments are-excellent, and a nod goes 
to M&ck for ace backing . from the 
band. 

Prices' are tilted here this week 
(65c. top), and rightly so. Business 
very healthy on the second show of 
the second day. Raft plays here 
eight days, through New ' Year's Day, 
including a midnight show , at $1.65 
jidmish. Fox, 



FOX, DETROIT 

^ Detroit, Dec. 29. 

Al.Bcrntc, Nelson Mrtfionets, Linda 
Moodv; Dennis ■ .Sisters, . Gracella 
Troupe, 'Tritth or Consequences 
Unit with Ralph iEdwards, Hcrschcl 
Leib House Orch, 'You'll Find OuV 

It's a well rounded program that 

. the Fox has devised; for its holiday 
stage show— even puppets, for: the 

' kids out of ischool-rand sparked by 
-something different in . stage .shows 
With 'Truth, or. Gonsequences,^ a bit 

: , of -radio audience participation that 
seems tb riegi^ter: even ^better before 
8,000 theatre fdns. - ; 

The conventional typie of .stage 
show, takes up the first half hour pt 
the program;, with the Ivory show— 
you can't mistake the . $ponsor,. with 
a 10-foOt banner, unfurled for 'Truth 

'. oif .Consequences'-^taking over the 

:. final pjortion.'- ■' 

. That patriotism Js.in the air is te 
fliected in the house orc.bestra's -OPen 
ing, 'March Americana,', ia .; medley, 
but mostly 'God Bless America.- • Al 
Bernie opens tjn'ghtly,; although 
given here to dissecting his. ^okeSi .as 

: m. ' .,• bringing on the Nelson in ariQ- 
nets,^ whose first two ■off«rings, the 

. Pagliacci clOwn .with his toy balloon 

V .and the drill of the toy ; spldierS, got 
big appreciation from the niirtierpus 
youngsters while the drunk- bit 
caught adult fancy. -Linda Mobdy's 
lively taps got Oyer- .and she's;. fol- 
lowed by the Dennis sisters,, ■ 

Latter . Use .plenty of . body sales?^ 
martship on their numbers, 'Argen- 
•tina,' "Maybe" and .'Ferryboat Sere,r 

. niade.' They hav^ , jsolid . arrange- 



ments but Work too loud fOr power- 
ful amplifying system. - 

Bernie's impersonations are tUcked 
in after them and he scores With 
'The Shadow,' Edwatd GV Robinson, 
James Stewart, President Rposevelt 
and Wendell -Willkie. The Gracella 
troupe still is close to the tops with 
its; violent acrobatics ahd Were best 
received of the entire show. 

'Truth or . Cbnsequences'- (New 
Acts) . then takes over on its bwn. 
--Audience light at firist show. Sun- 
day.. ;,(2fl);,. : ■ - '^ ; Pool. . 

Cril€AGb, CHI^ 

' ; Chicago; Dec; 28. • 
Bob Bror}^l9v, , Woltcr Dare: Wahl, 
Harrxsori :■ and Fisher, . . iamard, 
Afreti oiid Brodcric/cv Dorothy Hild 
Dancers Hi); 'Lave Thy Neighbor' 
XPar).: , .V./..:..,- ' .' - ;' ' 

' This; is a. typical (Chicago theati-.e 
show, rating as more . staige show 
than vaudeville, and highly suitable 
not only for the house, but for the 
holiday week. . It's a layout designed 
fOr. entertainment rather .than box- 
office. iiivieW of the sufficient . drag 
of the flicker,: and. as entertainment 
it makes' good.. . . - ■ 

All; are' standard a'cts; well 're- 
hearsed in satisfying atidiencles. The 
act: that prbbibly goes back farther 
in vaudeville than any other bn the 
bill was the biggest click at this 
catching.. -That'is: Arren and Brbd- 
erick. She rbcks 'ehi as always yith 
her prima dOnna ■ buHesqiie.- He 
still plinks the piano strings like a» 
banjo, and it's still the same . Old 
tune, but it remains a satisfactory 
bit;- - .; ■ ■. ■:... • 

Thete are a couple, of other tiirns 
on the bin. that alSa go. back a piece. 
One is thiat. Of Walter Dare. Wahl, 
who, with his partner, touched this 
mob for a flock bf laughs with , their 
knocka;bout hand-to-hand comedy. 
The other is the daiijce team of Har- 
rison and ; Fisher.. Bbth are still the 
_,cme; of finesse on .appearance and 
style, and have a fine flair iox audi- 
ences, either in the best of liiteries 
or theatres.': ■. .: :^ .- . ■ 

Bob Biromley's marioriets make a 
good novelty; He handles the dolls 
skillfully and has a new bit with Ji 
marionet oh a 'trapeze, the strings 
being wbirked' from breath instead 
of above. -It works but well: 
Tainara, red.eritly, here at the Ghez 
Pariee,- bikings to this - stage her quiet 
sense bf, elegance and highly pleas? 
ant vocals. She is a touch of class 
at all tirries.- 

Dorothy Hild line working 
through three numbers, and. : does, 
natticularly well with the yo'^rvng 
'Dance of the Hours.' ^ Gold. 



FLATBUSH, B'KLYN 



Teddy . Poioell Orch V)iih .. Peter 
Dean and ; Ruth Gaytord; . Henny 
YounflfTnan, Tronces Faye, . .Five 
Jewels, Adrian Rolliiii Trio;. Ne'ws- 
reels and Shorts. 



HIPP, BALTO 



Baltimore, Dec,, 28. 
Dave Schooler and All Arrperican 
Sioinghearts Orch (22), Sue Ryan^ 
Dancing Deb; . (3), Jirni Burnett, 
Whifson Bros., (4) ;. 'No, No, Nanette' 
(RKO). ■ 

Dave Schooler has been around for 
sonie time and should: know the an- 
swer by. now. Currently with a 21- 
gal orch; he has a job cut out for 
himself. Any all-girl brch of. con- 
siderable size must bear comparison 
with -Phil Spitalny's aggregation/ and 
using" that group as a standard. 
Schooler : must suffer in contrast 

There are individual good - spots 
here and there in the combo. Fiddles 
are good and some secondary instru- 
ments also measure up. Brass par- 
ticulairly is iycking in volume though 
six brass instruments, are used, 
Stirictly aS a b$ind act^ holding down 
a spot Of its bwn ph ah average lay- 
out,, aggregation has siifficient.stuff to 
gp over, but present stint here is a 
bit overboard. ' ' , . 

Made tip of four fiddles, five sax, 
six brass, four rhythm, flute and 
harp, combo makes a stagefilling 
picture, with Schooler entirely at 
home . in . the intros. Open with a 




June Burhette is On next , with brade 
of- swingeroo vocals in: which. -she. 
eniifelbys her chassis advantageously, 
Contributes tWo physical, conceptions 
of ''Got to Get; Hot* ahd-; 'Qld. Man 
River,* both fairly well received.' 
Has a nitery style of delivery, a bit. 
iout of. hand for typical, family : trade 
in this house. . . .• . : '- 

Orch next with arra.ngemcrtt. of a 
Rimsky Kbirsakoft number, :after 
which iSiree Debs, trio -of. feirmfies, 
whack: jout some three-way hbOfery: 
,and .ah aero: challenge for good 
change of .pace. Make spot for 
Schooler's stint^at the pianO, Liszt's 
'Second Hungarian :Rhapsbdy,-:a bell 
ringer and sold'to "the very tilt. .. 
. \ Sue Ryan on Here ahd ,a wow from 
the teeoff. Opens .with a version, of 
-songs as .i3eliveredOby : the girls on. 
the magazine "covers,, very skillfully 
sold arid good for a bundle of laughs. 
Irving Berlin's 'Bless de Lawd' next 
and equally solid, with concluding 
'Back to Bach,': :a . special abO\jt a 
niusical dame married, to. a jitterbug 
being a potent sh.qw-.stopiijer. ■ _ 
• .Rather inane jam .sC-wion by .six 
members of ensemble follows, after 
which tijc Fbuf : Whitsbri Bros., tic 
■ matters . into .a . begoff. ■ with their 
socko risiey..'.Ihterpoiated comedy is 
■nicely handled and .final tfick of ,a 
three-high somersault . a real wow. 
Cutely, developed 'March : Of the 
Toys* , by the orch closes matters 
nicely. ■ ,,.• 

. Biz just fair. , Bu^m. 



The good freres of Flatbush are 
making it tough for themselves with 
bv'errenthusiasm^ ■ • Any ,gzg- gets a 
laugh; aihy .' act. geti encore-demahd-' 
ing applause. Result is performers 
move into the Flatbush, quickly 
learn they're.;.Up against, a houseful 
of - piiishovers, and perhaps, feel anyr 
thing goes. Vicious cyclei abetted by 
bad booking and atrocious routining, 
reaches a hew loW this Week. ' 

Henny YOungman leads the- bad- 
news, ;He apparently .figures there's 
no use- Wasting- gobd gags When 
they'll, laugh at bad bnes-rsb he 
gives :'em .. the blaid ones. Amp^ig. 
other things is a meaningless repetiT 
tion of .the words 'racing fans! in the 
Glem McCarthy ; manner. It's not 
funny the' first time; its effect by 
the hundredth time :can be readily 
unappreciated. Arfd even ■ ihcltlded 
in the repertoire is the one that goes: 
'I just got. back from Holly wbod, I 
made twb pictures,:-bne like this arid 
one like this.' Need more be said? 
■. ■ Teddy PoWpU's creW is satisfactory 
instrumentaliy;' but seems to get 
bogged down in .the general morass. 
Outfit's topper, 'Rhapsody in Blue,' 
suffers, among other things, from the 
numerous false, finales bf the show. 
Aiidience, ■ thinking it's the end, 
walks , but during the; presentation. 
Actually, it's, hardly iiiore than half ^ 
way through the jshbw. Number,, 
aside from that, is arranged much 
too heaVily for satisfactory results. 
' Vocalists , with Powell are . Ruth 
GaylOrd arid Peter Deaii» Miss Gay,r 
lord, :well-cootOuriered, exhibits ai 
nice, rahge f rbm. crbbn to, full voice, 
doing -A Million Dreams .Ago' arid 
'Argentina;^ She's better on- the first,, 
more^^ dulcet, Dean's a conibinatibn 
cpmic-warbler suffering . from a 
: thesp complex apparently . engen-r 
dered by :a large pair , of phoney 
horn-rimmed spec;. ■ Does 'Mayor of 
Alabam,' . very weak, and . 'Your 
Feet!s Too Big' with Miss Gay lord: 
Second one's bettei:, but still n.s.h. 

Frances Faye,: who's acquired 
much: : additional avoirdupois, over 
the summer, rides her piano and. 
vocalizes . with the accustomed 
throatiness. . Does a phoney niedley 
Of .. tunes - she has b.een associated 
with, reminiscent of Belle Baken 
They're a combo of Yiddish, Italian, 
Russian and. English double-talk. 
Worked Out a little more, it would be 
a solid' click. Winds up with 'Beat 
Me Daddy' for satisfactory, results. 

Adrian Rbllini's . Trio is a pip as 
music-makers but, routined in the 
middle , of a stage' shPw, slbW the 
proceedings to a sleep-producing 
toddle,' Threesome's work: on vibra- 
phone, guitar arid bass is plenty 
melodious, but a tricky nOveity is 
required to' break it iip;: Yoiingman, 
at the show caught., did Rollini a 
favor— which clearly went unappfb- 
ciated by the burned-up: maestro— 
by grabbing, a. couple of. the sticks 
and knocking "off a few .bars, on 
vibraphone and chimes himself. It 
provided comic relief needed. . 

.Early turn is the Five Jewels, 
femme jugglers. Plenty okay as ice- 
breakers, . - they're showmanly iri 
identical blonde : wigs and gold- 
spangled dresses. They make a good 
stage picture tossing tennis .rackets, 
hoops and Indian clubs, v/orking 
singly, in twos, threes and' fives arid 
filling the stage with fiying. ding^ 
bats. Herb, 

EMBASSY, N. Y. 

(NEWSBEELS) 

No news is good news; 'That's 
probably what the theatre editors 
thought after looking over this crop 
of riewsreel clips. House would have 
been left in the lurch if it had not 
been for the excellent summary of 
1940 news and sports roundups con- 
tributed per Custom by all reehs, 

Progi-am uses 'Fateful Year,' News 
of Day summatibn .of 1940 . news 
events,~in; toto, arid parts of Univer- 
sal's and Movietone's highlights, of 
the year." N. of D; leads off with the 
battle of Narvik, retreat from Nor- 
way arid other events' of the Nbr< 
Wegian - campaign. Evacuation of 
Dunkirk by the Allies, the reelectiori 
of President RObsevelt . arid the. 
desti^uction of the French: fleet ; at 
Orarig also arb' included as but 



and juggling sliok grid maneuvers 
for spontapeoiis laughs. All-roiind, 
smart .editing.:. 

Pathe goes in for routine coveirage 
Oh the year's spbrts,'- with Clem 
McCiarthy : back . to . spiel on track, 
speedway auto, racirig; horse races' 
and the Hudson River . crew events. 
Andre BarUch does the baseball; gbU 
arid terini?. highlights;. ; 
: ; Week's batch of news ' items ■ Jnr 
eludes such 'exciting' moments as 
the launching of:a new Pan-Amerii 
can bbat (Par) and the annual greets 
irigs frorii embassy children in. 'Wash- 
ingtori (Pathe). Last is good, for^: 
chuckles, Thete also. is a parade bf 
vGreeks in Chicago to raise funds for 
war sufferers (U). ;• 

Clips concerning- U. ;S; prepared- 
ri:ess iriclude . Admiral W.- D'. Leahy 
sailing for his Vichy ;po^t^ Kelly 
Field aviator , class -'being coriiriiis- 
sioried, glass Wirigs beiriig tested f Or- 
army planes, : new' bomb deflector 
and vfur coaitj for Alaskan.: troops 
(Universal), aririy; hostesses- going to. 
wbrk: and "draftees oft bri.Xmas leave 
(Par), Gene Tunney beirig-.Swbrri in. 
as army athletic instructor and Lbrd- 
Halifax named as new British arii- 
bassador to America (both- Mo'vib-. 
tbne).:- 

..' On the duller .side, prograni shows 
a beauty glamour, school and Airthut 
Murray .dancers teaching boys on;, a 
naVy. training boat,, both Outright 
Pliigs. Also a: <SUb. Boy ScoUt drive, 
a sHveE :'fox- f arrii; ; Al. Srilith . piaylrig 
Santa and a 'Frarice Forever'' ses" 
sion. Movietorie. contributes its 
usually smart fashion section,, this 
time on shoe styles. ParamOunt's 
'Popular Science' shbrt helps the fciill. 
~ -- ■ ■: Wear;,. 



LYRIG, INDPLS. 



. . . JniiioMpplis,. Dec. 27. 

.'New ' Year's Revue' ■■u>ith Nick 
Lucas, Sid Page and 'Peggy Eifle, 
Aldri .Carney, Barr and Estes, Fiw.«: 
Herzogsj- Lincdsief and B l.u e . 
Rhyinettes (12); 'Behind the. Neiuir 

(Rep). ■; 

.: Operatirig :a stage show policy ott 
a' 5i2-week basis riiust. present book- 
ing;: pirbliiems to any house arid thi> . 
may. be- brie of the weeks which has 
the Lyric in a spot " for bobkings. 
Acts are all standard, and okay, but . 
the best name,they Could And for tha 
show is Nick : Lucais, who isn't strong . - 
enough with the present gerieratibii 
to: fc«iep the wicket turning out fr^ortt.' 

ICeepirig the. ilut down still doesn't 
mean a profit as business is: thin, and 
even, a certain packed hoiise for the 
New Year's Eve performance - won't 
•change the color of the .: week's red : 
inlr. This: is no reflection bn- Lucas* 
:ability as an entertainer; as he fill^ 
the next-^to'-clbsini; spot neatly with, 
a mixture of current -pops: and old; 
favorites; high terioring: 'Ferryboat - 
Serenade,' 'Berkeley SqQare,' 'Paint- 
ing Clouds With . Sunshine,' .. 'W* 
Thtee;! 'Great American Home,' and 
'Thanks '.-For; Meriiory* .-.to his' own . 
guitar acpompariiriierit .His turn .won 
a hearty rijurid b£ mitt slaps at. Show : 
..caught; . '.■ '■ 

Another standout on the bill Is < 
two blind amateurs plUcked from 
WFBM Talent Parade, Lancaster and. 
Blue, Lancaster sings 'Bells- of ' St; 
Mary's' to,' Blue's chimes accompani* ~ 
. ment at piano; and won hearty salvoi 

a A : -i- . i:* A .:,.ii>^*.j->^ A good bet to win more enthusiasm ^ 
TEXAS. SAN ANTONIO i?. overlooked when , boys' sightless- 
■ ness is not,. mentioned to audience, 

and Blu,e should be given a chance , 
to: show his swing ability- On the 
iVorieSi" 



Son- Antonio, Dec. .28.; 
Our Gan£F Cornedy Kids, ' .Giirl 
Switzer,- Shiriky - Coatee, Darwood 
Kayey Ahitd Gordon^ : J.acH Pepper, 
Du?igM Brown,: Frank Doyle; 'GdU 
lant Sons': (;MrG) ; ■ -. v .; 

Frorii the screen to the stage Of the 
Texas cbme:- four former members of 
the Our Gang Comedy Kids with a 
fast iripvirig song, dance arid coriiedy 
show: that is pleasirig local patrons, 
especially the kids, ' 

Iricluded in the 4()-ri(iinute presen- 
tation is Jack Pepper, m.c, who war- 
bles Several . tunes and otherwise 
keeps the show moving at its merry 
pace.. Opens With a song that Broad- 
way has gone Hohywoo^, and winds 
up by saying he has several actorS 
who, instead of going Hollywood, are 
goirig Broadway. This introduces the . 
Gang. . 

. Darleena. (Anita Gordon^),' the 
vamp, comes but to lead off with a 
rendition Of Madan^e La. Zori^a and 
comes back in a short skit With en- 
tire :group, displaying her. talents as- 
a come-hither gal. 
: Waldo (Darwood Kaye) . and Al- 
falfa (Carl Switzer) are. next with 
an eccentric tapi routine which reg- 
istered well foi: nice laughs and ap- 
plause. WaidO comes back solo for 
a session- on the ivories which , is 
composed of a medley of 'Deep Piir- 
ple' and 'Sunrise Sereriade.' Mugfsy 
CShirlejr Cbates) doeis a tap routine 
in. a fair riianner, arid' also appears 
iri the skit , 

Standout bit is the comedy of Al- 
falfa arid Pepper, with, top honors 
going to their Imitation of Edgar 
Bergen and C^harHe McCarthy. Al- 
falfa, . of course, Is . the dummy, 
dressed in tails and tophat, and goes 
over so well that at showing caught 
Pepper had to stop several times .due 
to laughter at Alfa1fa^G->antics. on his 
knee. Good, tob, Wa$^songanswer to 
Alfalfa's question- to wherfe^lowns 
and coriiediaris go. . 

Pepper is heard in . several songs 
throughout presentation and gives 
out with several jokes, several of 
which may be over the heads of. the 
juvenile audience; -which Is in hea.vy 
attendance.: Is best iri 'If I Could Be 
With "YPu,' which .he iritroduced in 
the 1933 editiori of the Ziegfeld 'Fol- 
lies,': and 'There. Must Be A .Hea-ven 
For Clowns;' 

Entire group is bn for finale, which 
, is singing: of 'God Bless America.' 
with audience; joining in for fin?l 
;chorUS.-.( ■. . : ■ . 

Musical backgrourid .h. ore.sented 
by Frank Doyle and D wight Brown 
at: the twin pianos, with : Brown dou- 
bling on the .orgari; ■■ .-. , ,; 

Second show caught .opening day 
had a capacity audience. Andi/> ;. 



- A welcome, relief from' the usual 
line numbers, is' the grace and abiiity " 
of the 12 Ascher.-Baurrian Rhythm'- . 
ettes, .who appear in - three spots. 
Girls are all lookers, are tastefully 
cOstunied, and -Can handle the hoofs 
,^yi.th alacrity... 

; Alan Carriey splits his appeararice 
into several spOtS;. sharing /m.c. hon- 
ors with Sid Page, arid also :iriiper« . 
sonations of . notables iri one ispot, 
with impressioris of di'uriks and soaiv 
box orators in another. 

Barr and Estes do sbme eccentriv 
dancing which is okay, but . Barr 
spoils much of his. tiriie by the'iell- 
ing of some "Vintage gags.. 

Sid Page is aided by Peggy ijarle^ 
havirig dropped the two: Franken- 
stein girls, he has carried With hirti 
on previous trips. Ha.s spme gags^ 
rOpe tricks, then goes into a magic 
burlesque, but comedy attempts were 
missing the ribs at shoW caught. Ho 
has played: the house often enough 
to merit a change in routine; but this 
isn't the: right change. . 

Bill ran an over-long: 79 minutes 
on Friday (27), with hOuse thin at 
third sho.w. . . ; .:'. , Kil^y. j 

ADAMS, NEWARK J| 



: Neujark, Dec, 28 
Charlie Barnet's: Orch with Ford 
Leafy, Bob Carrol, and Lena Horti: 
Three Arnolds, Dan Rice, jaoke dni 
Poke; 'Bowery Boy' (Rep) . 



sUndirig: stO.ries. . The riewsreel ; alsO. i Veteran N.O. jWardiGraS- 

has glirhpses 'Of warfare in the lovv-; 



land?, boriibirig bf boats In .the.:EnK 
lish: channel, U. ©.. preparedness and 
the siege of England. Universal puts 
the Norwegian campaign; at the top 



Costuiiier Retires at 85 



Adams has . nbisy: XmiSs. show 
which rates in so-so category, but . 
customers accept it in holiday spirit, 
with pleHty of palni-poundirig for 
one arid all. 

.: Setting pace is Charlie Barnet's 
bpass-'heavy erew. . Sound and. fiiry 
characterize arrangements for most 
part, and Barnet does full share of 
horn-tooting. Leader makes okay 
appearance, but seemed uncertain of 
lines as m.c. when caught (28)/ 

Three vocalists all got encore en- 
couragement. Bob Carroll comes 
out -first, and turns In good job ped- 
dling 'Only Fbrever,' 'That's For Me' 
and 'Whispering Grass.' Lena Horn 
.shows Up in mid-program- with 
'Dowri Argentina Way.' 'Good For 
Nuthin'. Joe,'- 'Exactiy.Like You,' and 
:i Can't Get Started With You."She's 
exotic looker, .erihances effect with 
flamboyant costume, and clicks pron- 
to. Ford. Leary, of band, gets fea- 
tured billing,, but begged off becauise 
of throat trouble after : one brief 
■tune.. ■ •'!; . ■;.-":■ 

-. Three : Arnold^; -tvirb: giiys .anid ' 
gali leisurely tiiriible arid : strongarm 
theii* Way :thrbugh . routirie of dicky 
stunts involving considerable shp6ld- 
errstarid -work, prie good bit has . gal 
arid one guy climbing all over big^ 
.gbst "partner/: ,.: :-■:• 

Cbmic Don Rice has bag of: tricks 
of uneven, riieirit. Stuff . like.' dmi- 
tating Willkie rrierely. . with soma 
Waves bf his arms is fi-esh enbugh, 
but other material , sonietimeis bor- 
ders pri the'-cbrny. . He. works hard 



. • . : .New^.Orleansi ,Iiiec. 31. 
A little, ..gray-haiired wpirian . is 
of its list, Hhe Dunkirk retreat arid 1 leaving her shop,', Where for 60 years 
the crash, of - the. ^Leaping Lena' i she has turned but costuriies and 
bridge ;at -Tacoma being .;^rated .as j^rbtesque masks needed -by the' old 

I old clips frorii Egypt, arid new bhes matikers. Madame Julia Alabau is 

j:from the Greek front. .. ': ..; retiring: to a -life of ..domestic quiet laughs thbueh 'and has'nleaq^ht 

Movietone alsb haS many bf .thc.se and comfort. She's 85 years old^ -Sonalitv - ' ' '^^^.P'.®*^'"?* 
(big-stories plus F.D.R.;s flaying of. time she says to settle down arid - 
Mussolini, ..the. .Far East :warfaye,- ' ggt- a little joy out of life,- . - ' 

' 'Wheri i think pf all the' deVilV 
..ship Amerca launching,, the Dionncs. ... „ „#tK«»;.i4,, 

; and ■Mi.sr, America of 1940,' : , ' ^^^^ j^l '^^^^'^^ 
t- Paramount gets away from routine the old French Opera— well, I guess 
: sports as 'Professor' Bill Slater,- . The .| I'll, miss . them,' : she ' said sadly., 
i 'pfoiE' asks the audience which sports ! The shelves :in , her modest little 

they like.best and .then gives the: .shop in the Old French CJuairter are 
, answer-- 'football, .Review spot.s. \[ned With '; gay-colored- silks • and 
•what Par rates as the thrill plays Some of them- arp leweled- 

of 1940, concluding by tr ck ng .up "^i'"^' ?^ ■ . 1 jeweiect. 

r the camera, givinglsloW-rtiotion-ver^ others .spangled.^.^.'They're being sold 
' ?iqns of ball-carr-yirig , and haltingv tp the . hlgh^^^^ , . , . . 



Moke and'Poke, colored, ;got solid 
recep^bn with their knockabout gag- 
ging arid, hpbflng;: Halfway through 
act one guy dons woman's dress, and 
pair stage some riotous . nibnkey- 
.shines, ■' ■■ • . :■ . ■ - ■ ■. ■ . '• . . 

Bunch of hOOfeirs and singers froni 
local dancing' school open show, and 
perform like most . amateurs; Re* 
ccptive- audience: didn't seem ■ t« 
mind. 

House crowded at Saturday sUp. 
Dcr Jihqw (28). . Kent. 



40 



Wednesdfijv January 1, l5^4l 




THIS WEEK (Dec. 27) 

NEXT Week (Jan. i) 



Numerals. In connection with liiMs Mtpw. indfc* o.penJnfl day; of . 
- .ahoWr VHother full, or •plit: >^ 




NKW YORK CITY 

.State (2) 
imrlyn «• Jflchael 
E:ri(^ii<> Taylor ■ 
.8 aiooges " ' 
Jack Mitle Or« ., 
Linda Moody . 



WASHIKGTON 

. .' Cmtitoi iS)-.: 

RhyUim Roffewii 
T<gcy Jiouroo ■■■ 
S^^aelt.ft Spotly 
Iiew J^arUer 
Pritchard & Lord 




KJBW" YOJt k-rCiTY 
'Pitraihount .Ci> 

Tonliriy Dorsey Ore 

NIoliola!) Bro.i . 

Lorraine & KoEnan 

ChrlA .Cros.i 
CKDAIC R.\PII>S . 
rnniniount (7-1)) ■ 

Cab Callaway ■iDi'o . 



. CHICAGO ;; . 

Bute. J.«k<> (3): . 
Fats;^VaIli;r. Oib" ■ 
Oraca MrDnnald' ' 
Waaso.n Bros 

WATjBRLOd 
Faramount (3.-5) 
Cab .CailowiCy Ore 




.Toli'ri .KIrby Ore " 
Hay .Herbeck Ore •• 
~ aami(ela"'& Ifayer 
'fit J'ftVeo' ■ '■ :■ . 
Senator Murphy. •■ ■ 

Bton Boys ■ 
Big: Time prlp" . 

XBWAKK . 
Arinihii (I) 

ni.ye Bufrori p'rc- 
'onilda Bi-o.a ; • 
I'atrlria Bills ■ ' 
Rox M'obor ■• '.' ■'■ •■ 
l>HILAT>|i;LPIlTA 
Carnuih (3l-») . 
B.oeash'.& 9ardlnr. 

Daholn'ir .'PcbB ■ 
Sibyl Bovvah'^ ■ • ' 
Collins & ■Peli'rsbii ■ 

B^'plyn . l-'iriiey.. . • ',' 

R'yans . 
M:arly Jlay ' 
JteKirlQ AVltlt* . 
18 Roxyelteii ' 
(Ona to flll)- - 

pitSiax 

nroadwny (4 only) 

i-Cardovaji . 
('fluee to ml) 

(1st .only) . ■ 
Jamea Evan's : C.o 
kelvJn'& Joc>lyB- 
.1 ,Ryanii . . ',' 
Rbchello R«y- ■ ' 
PORTCIIESTKB 

tfcpitoi. my 

Torkb. i .Ortez ■■ 



BOSTON 
Keltk (3> 
Gaa White Scandalo 

• (20-^) 
Georeo vRaft Co 
Ted Maok ■ 
O & B Malson- 
Ted Lealer .. 
De\'al Merle & L«« 

rs'ttitts ; ; ' . 

Patricia Norman 
CINOISNATI : 
Sliiibt^rt (3) 
iStreela of Paris 

(27). 
Crlsllanla ... 
Oraffory .& Raym'd. 
Tommy Rls'fS'Co 
Al Trulian 
Ciro Rim lie Orq 
DAYTON 
Cnlbulal (3) 
Int'l Casino Rev" 
(27) 

6 Antalecks 
Reynolds & Whit* 
Itaadall Sis 
Lowe Hitc &■ Stan. 
Jerry Lester 
Gaul Graumnn Oo 
CLKVKLAXD 
PulaOe (3) 
Ca'aa Loma' Ord 
■\Vatson -Si's 
Jerry Lealer 
Carole &'>f:heroa 

(27) 
Olive Fay 



.BUitche- Brnfllpy Ctt 
Rosemary. Deer.lng' ' 
Manuelo 'Del ' RIo' Co 
-Gene Sheldon . 
Koni'halanta. ' ' 
Tnizzl- .' : ■ 
ShyratfoB.. ■ 
Arnau't Bros . 

mth St. (27) 
Milt BritiQit t; 
Ployd Christy v • 
Five Blgliis 
Helen' Pammer 
Tommy Rafter ty 
Carol. King - 
Tito. 

cotusiBi's : 

: I'alace (27) 
Int'l Casino Rev • 

ROCIiESHBn . 

' Temple (27) 
Ozzie .Nelson Qra ■ ' 
Harriet Hill Inrd . 
t>oh Cunimln^s 
Ghezzls 

SYH^VCVSB 
Strand (31) 
Clyde McCoy Ore 
Joey 'Sard In . . 
Rabberts & White . 
Vanderbllt Co 
(25-80) 
Gautler Stecplech'e 
Pine & Foster 
3 Peters SIS. . 
Senator Murphy 
\.t Co-Bds , 



VVW YORK CITY 

Strand (3) 
Abe Lyman Oro- 
Rosa Blane 
Betty Bruca ' - 
I'ansy Sanborn 
Varsity 6- ' 

BROOKLYN 
Slrubd (2S-I) 
fleo White Scandals 
JOHNSTOWN 
Majestic (9-11). 
Vincent Lopez. Ore 
PHILAUELVIUA 
Earle (3) 
Ozzle Nelson Oro ' 
Harriet Ullltard ' 



Humphrey Bogart ■ 
GbezzlB 
, ■ (27) . 
Mlnevjtch Rascals 
Larry Clinton Ore 
Seymour &' Picture 
READING 
Aator (31-4) 
Bbb Fuller Co 
Peter James 
Slim TlmbUn 
7 Fredysons ' 

IVASIUNGTON 
linrle (31-») 
Gab Foster Uls 
Whltson Bros 
EarJlne King . 



lent 



>KW YORK CITY 

Miixic Ilall (3D> 
J & L Seller ■ 
Andy Muyb Co , 
Karle Llppy- 
Joseph LanUin' 
Charles Nowi'on • . 
Joseph Sch.wdrtsi' . 
Mu.riii Carbons' 
Hilda iOukler < 
Nicholas DaUa 
Cor|)S' de Ballet. 
RocUelles.' • 

' Krno Itupbe Sympb' 

K«ixy (3) 
Mario Ik Klovlb 
Belel.t &. lOhb'llslv 3 
Bob Ripa. . ' .~ •'• 
Jtlcliard, Flriney . • ".' 

'Paul Ash. Ore . 

Apollo (4) 

Count Urisle'Orq : ' ■ 
Helen Uunies . . 
Jan\es Hu.sliing ' 
It J^urUy Biiclis " 
Henri WoHHOl^' ; 
CuDUl & XViipor '. 
Hajjpys l'<il"& Pete., 

rrntflHTtr (31-1)' 
Joe Arena' 
Murks J.nn'es.: ' A 
Di'lia ciairoU' ' ■ 
Garner & Wilson.' 
2larlpl Asrhe .Co 

Riviera (31) 
Rex (J«'( n 
Nancy Ifoaly 
. Tbyo Cn - ',. 
Pat Ilcnnthfr.ffo 
Junctlc.HH(-keit Co 
■ f5) ■.• A ; 
2' Novclloa .' 
Garron & nt-hnott" '; 
Charlie' r^lpy Orc . 
(Cine to (111) 

WiiiilNiir (2) . '. 
8 Jub'glinff Jo\velii 
Adrian Itnlllnl. 3 
Hcniiy ■youtlgman 
Prahcea F.iyo ; • • 
Ted.l'bvcll -Ore 

BROOKLYN 
, ■ . lilatUuHli. (2) 
'H'M'«oU''X!anlnD» ^ 



Js'ancy. Ilealy ' 
eiyJe -ilvgur Co. 
Boa "VValji 
Jaa Savltt'brc ■ 
; U/itLXLMOR1S : 
State (5-8) 
Noel .Hytowh 
Doug, l.cavitt Co ' . 
6 'Cardovas 

.(.2r4) ':': . 

.James .liivanH Co . 
lioy, Lee.£D'iinn ':■ 
.Johnson, Xi^am-' - 
. If IpiiMlroihe ':j(.1l.-8) 
■Beiriiy' :i:»avli) i:ov . 
■ :. CAMo'BN' : 

■.T»>\verB;:'(2-r3^ ■ 
Blablcstohe: 

• ELIXAiSKTIf 
. . Xiibertr (2-0) 
Mayhes &■ ..Perry ' . . 
Paul -Aiall . 
Seed & AVhJtb. .- . 
''i Bartons 
(One .to nil) ' .J 
. l-il/JIIMHS'TT^ 
, Q'ltvcnKbbrb (\-Vt) ■ 
S^iiibh' sionl.a Co- ' 
Pat HtnnlnB Co • 
'Bob HoV.-Hrd .. .. 
Zlhn Artliur .Oro 
(Uno . lb ; ill V . 

. : ii-ALL mvisR 

Kmplre (31-;*) - 
8 Jiickj-ons^ 
Helen ''Honan ■ ' 
Stonb J.i'eb 
TbinTii'y Rcynnliis-.O 
KltliEI'OrtT 
Frotpbrt <fli\l) 
'2: Novellu.s: . 
Johnny. Morgart' 
3 Harrison KIs 
Jui)llbe' Rh.VlliihB • - 
COnb to (Wl). . 
IlAKTl-OIli> 
■ , Slate. X"J-.U 
Charlie BarncL Oro: 
Jolniiiy Burko' 
•1 Step Bros 
Iglaliie Borrle Co 

(80-1), .. 
3-;Stobebs. 
Maxlntf SuLUvan 



'Rlnina ' Pb\ylln9 
Rpy ' Wmeck ■ .. 
ll.bbby Carbdhe .Co 
.3 Bart.ona. 

PftOVII>l{NCR 
Itletropolltan (2-6) 

S Graya'. ■ ' . 
Johnny ' Db^vnes ■ < 
Sue 'Ryan Co . - 
Harry' Janven Oro- • 
. WASHINGTON .; 

Hbtvard (») , 
J liuncBford Ore '. 
Miller Bros .A Lbfs 
S wa n Si T;ee.' 
Vllma MlddJ^toh ■ 
• WORCRSTKRv 
Plynionth (30-1). 
•6 'GvayH . ' ■■: 
.O'Connor Faiiv 



Ulorla Martin 
'Hotel. l4>iliiKtoil 

Ray Kinney Oro ■' 
Uopolulu Maids . 

'Hotel TJbroiii' 

.Tohy ' Pastor .Oro • . 
IJnOulnaIrs 

lloiel; MqAlpiii . 
I iKliain Jones Oro ." ' 
I Shirley Lloyd 

I .11 at ei; Nefr Yorker 

W'obdy', Herrnan Orb 
Muriel "Lane • ' 
loe Ballet :■. 
Krha .Atidcrsen .' 
Aili'Ie \xsk«' 
Mary; Ijee, Bennett 
.1tihn' Kiniiey' 
'Honnlg /Roberta 
Jerry. PiirVey . 
V.ivhce .May' - 
Hoots' Vo'ting ' ' ■ 
Uatel. Parlk Central 
. ((Wbann't .Grove).' 
Ruddy Clartta Oro 
..lat'-k. WaMron .. .• 
Harry.'.Prlnce *;G ' 
Past Ins &' Failchon 
3 Night Ingalei. : 

.'Scat;' Po»*-en.; 

'Blehbre' .Wood ..'■ 
Robertl 'lilpbe;rta, . 

Hal«l Pehnsyl.Ti 

Gien'ii Miiier .Ore' 
Uay. Kberle "' '. 



Betty Alien 

Betty Jane .Cooper 

Colstons 

Dora. Maughan 

Klashe' 'jc'Sund'a' 

Jackie Gl'paabn' 

Renoe VlUon ' 

• . Bion 'Paria 

.Dlok 'Wilson Pro 
L^ikaweila Ore .' 
Jerry . B.lanchord-. 

i'Rulherfbrd & .Sabin 

'Albnte Carlo '. • 
Ted .$t'raeter Pro . 
Freshmen .. 

Old . hountanlMD .^ 

joe La Porte Oro '■ 
Cass Franklin '. 
Peaise ' 
Klhef Be'iinett ' 
.Sadie Banks - . 
Jen helie~.Garrette . '. 
Jenia Pbbedlala. 

.'l -Paro-'Paro .Clbb' 

Joe RIcrirdel Oro' '\ 
Syl.Yle St Clair .. 
Vi'ia Adams Lisa' 
Tpnl . 'Wo.od':; . 

'Place Blegai^to 

Brnest;. Franz Orb '. 
9ernlre. Manning' - . 
Bill Farrell: \ 
Joe Ravazb - •' • . 
'Vlhceiit 'He poala .' 
Art Tubertlnl , 



Helen Millar 
CUUrk. Henry .Ore ' 
Plrnles 'Ileii ' . . 

Pejrleg 'Happened. . 
Mlcn;po Yosnma ' 
Happy Hemingway 
ithadrack Boya ' .. ' 
Uaby La FUle .. 
Black .. Andy 
Chiirlea a{bve.na,.Or 
Eddie. Albany . \ 

• . 'Seven- Kfae- ; 
I.llla Klplkona . 
Puana-rtl'-Atath'aw* ' 
Jane 'Aveliir 
Jbliirla .-Bright Ore- 
. .: ^oni'f rHrt Houio.: 
Kat>ry. - Rli'ufland 



Bltlott Carpenter 
Lorraine Elliot . , 
Lou Sallea pro ' 

- Bwanne Inia . 
Gladya'Behtler- - 
Eddie ,'Dea.l - . . > 
Pork Chop. .' 

. Topiy*.*.' 
Topsy'a .Glrlesqtio 

Russ' Brpwn' 
Mttrvla.Unla ,Oro . 

- ■■Victor .Iliig.o ' 
Ben' Berhle Oro .'. 

. WlisKIre iiowl 

'.Don & - Beverly .-- 
I*hn Karris 



CHICAGO 



imbaesador Hotel 

'(ramp Room) 
Larry Adler '.. 
^erry Slt'elton' . pre .. : 
'Virginia Hay*' ;. : '. 

BInmarrk' Hotel" . 
(WfllDUl-'Rttom) 

.Art-- .K-aasel : Ora- "• 
Ma rlon •Holmes. ' 
Cbllette itk. Barrr 
-|jew~ Hoffman 
.Hadley - Gla' 

Biarkliawfc '--' 
Raymond Scott Ore 



booking the nation's i£ading independent 
Vaudeville theatres 

EDWARD SHERMAN 



1619 BROADWAY NEW YORE 



5-0930 



Clyde Hager- Co-' - 
Harrir - James Pre ' 



Cabaret Bills 



SEW TOEK city 



- . Aafliandb'e 

Frank Mande'lla .Or. 
Pedrito Ore ' 
Marle 'Spauldlhg ' 

- Baroque'. 

Johnny Paj'.n* 
Cy 'Walter ■ 
Louloy-'Jean' ' •.'..■- 

Bea^^lirohiber ') 

Val Olman.Pro 
Ariivida 
Caryl Gould : 
Florence & Alvarez 

Bill Berlolottre : 

Don Sylvlb Ore 
Arigeu- Crc 
Oeo -Mbrgan ' ' . 
Joan Ben^ilt' . ' - 
Loretta- Lane. 
Lynn. & .'Maiianne 
Pat Williams . : 
Enrique --'Valohcia'. 

Bin's any <KI> 
Cliarlca Strickland 
iiUlu Batoit . .. 
Fred Bishop 
Spike Harrison 
Harold Wlllard 
Jlarry Donnelly • 
Berple Grattisr ' 
Cafe .CODtlneiital- 

Tascha. Datskb' 
NorilsCrom Sl'a.' ' 
Alex Mbkofka 
Patricia Wing 

'Cafe B-Oree 
Tommy Lyman 
Al .Lamb 

Freddy \'xn Aarden 
Tom SakolllS'- ' .. ' 
John CoslellO' 

.Cafe Pierre - 
Bob Knight Ore' 
Carol Bruce 

Cafe Society 
CM.Idtinvn) . . 

Teddy Wilson Orb. 
liiddle South Ore 
Fred Keating 
llazol Scott. 
Golden Gate 4 ' 
Amnions Sc Jolinson 

-Cafr Society 
(Village) 

Henry Allen Orb 
Meade Lux Lewie . 
Art.Tat-uni' . 
Willie Bryant : 
Saminy.'- Pier»on' ' '.' 
Sister Tharpb ' 
- Clinteau MtHleue; 
Gabriel - ! . -. '' 
Sam Urassls 
3 Muslcaluooa . 
•Bill Taylor 
Uovptjiy Trtiiner. - 
; Cirtb Cuba 
Alberto' Iznaga -Ofc- 
-Aiian -Blake- 

Ciiil) 18 • 
G ' A hd're »v s 'O re . '- -. 
Paler Bijent -.Ore . . ■.\ 
Hazel Mc^-ulty - .:■ 
Ji.n-,fc^ White '•- ■ ■ 
Maiclnb Lbonila . 
Lllyan Ucll,; -.' 
.X'ai. Jlar.nngrten 
Krankie I'lyera .- 
■sWiCk' .Uloaijoh '. 
Leila Ui(S''nc.s - . '• . 

. Cliib/'Pauctio'' •■ 
Don 'Miguel' Orb' . 
Currlio & Coral'.'. 
Miii-'lta N ■ ....■■.'"' 
T.aii)ara. '• 
Fotitana .. 

:' Cliik Troplcuua . ':: 

"Riri'Mavyns 
Diike of Iron . ■ 
Itoui/lrir 

Calyiwo. Trbnbad'rs ' 
Uelui.i Lyn'nu . 
'Suzanpoi .Hc.nios - ' 
June' McLarnen • ■ 
Italia KosH ' : ■ 

nub- iValklkl . 

Andy .(oiia Orb . • 
Na-l'ua^ . - ■ 
Tullan'ia ■' 
' ' , CbpacQbana 



Jane 'Deeirlng . 
Samba. Slrbns' -" 

- Cuban' Casino ' ' 
Conauefo. Mprenb - 
Ddn Caa.ahbva - 
DImaa '£ BeleO'' 
ErtlDorre 

Plamond Horaeslioe 

Noble . SIssle. Oro 
Blanche Ring 
C^llda Gray - ' 
Eddie Leonard . 
Julian -Eltinge 
Harland Dixon 
Prof .Lam berti-' 
WInl Shaw '• 
Horton Spurr. 
Dave -Mallep 
Herman Hyde' 
Sally ' Burrell 

.' .£1 Cnico 
Don. Alberto Ore 
Martinez & Antoulta 
Lollta Gomez 
Pepe- Hurtado. ' . 
LaGltanllla'. 
Maria Lopez- -. 
Los Azteraa 

%\ 'Morocco 
-.Jack Towns -Ore. 

Oojr White Way 

Shep Fields Ore ' 
Fausf o Curbello Ore 
Joaii ' Ed wards. . 
Harris. & . Shore. 
Bub- Shea 
Al Norman 

Carol K<"ff - 
Reraldlne &'Jos 
Gloria; Blake - 
Marlon" Miller . 
Jorge -Negr.cte 
Juarilta- Rlos 
Mlml Kellerman 
Coley Worth 
Marcia Ray 
-Ann. Pennington 
Genwl'li. Village tnn 

Ahthony Trinl Ore 
Alleen Cook 
Eddie Baron 
Ginger liane 
Linda March 
-Grace Pa'ttersoa - 
HaVaaa-Madrlil 
Froliah Maya Ore . 
Juanitb Sanabria Or 
Arturo Cortez ' 
Peplta Lucia- . - 
Rita Montaner ' 
Manor & Mi'gnon'. 
Roslia Orlegn ;.' 
. .'UlcUory House 

Joe Marjaja Ore . 
4. Spirits'. Rhythm • . 
' ./Bote) AlgoniiulD.. 

oiga Baci'nniova. .' 
•Bola Blzony 
Kenatp . .' - 
Osc^r, Andrea 
Freddy Wheeler' ' 
Norjn'a Day. . . - : - 
p.elores d'e. Marl-lnl 

- Hoib) . A>nl^n!4siidoc 
Larry Siry- .Orb '-'' 
-Jane -.Wlnton 

: Hotel Aator 

Dick Kuhii Orb - 

Hotel; niltmorb 

Will Bratlley drc : 
Rniy McKlnl^y 
PhylJIs Miles ■ ■ 
- Hotel l|tot)«ert.' . 
(Brooklyn) 

Ed'dlb La.ne^ Ore '. ... 
. '. Ilo'tol 'Itre.vbnr^ ■ 

Eddie Malyehoff! .}". 
Morley &'a.earhcar'i 
Norbert Fdconl , . : 
Jane Mahncra 
Loa Cucnrachaa. » 
Hope ISilversoh . 
Hotel ' Cominodore. 

Samiiiy^ Kayo Ore ' 
3 Kadeta'-'- 
Toinmy Ryan > . 
Jimmy' Brown 
ehanib Wllson 
Grayce-& Graliarn 
Art Barker 3 
'; Hotel ■Edlsoii, 

Mai Hailoit Ore 
Madeline 



Marian Huttoo 
'Clro',Kl.mae Ore 

jiotel PiaM . . 
Dick Gasparre -pro- 
i:hlqulto. Ore. ■ 
I'aul; Haakon 
Josephine Houstob 
De Marcos 
,. - Hotel '.BooaeTelt . 
Guy .l.,ombardo .Pro 
Jitiitel .Savoy-Plaui 
Ern'lle'.Pcltl Pro ■ 
llildcgarde 

ilotel Slieltoii 
Johnny Jo.hnsbn 'Pr 
. Ilo'lel SI. George, 

' . (Itroa|kl}-a) 
Mllpliell Ayres Pre' 
. ' Ilotel St. Morlts 

Eddie Varzos Pro ' -. 
IjoIs January '. ' - ' 
Pa u lens 

Hotel St. Beglr 

rial Saunders Orb' '. 
Uus M artel Pro 
Dorothy. Lewis 
Heasley ;Twlna 
Hazel. Franklin . 

. liofel Tuft .- . : 
Fraiikle Masters Or 
Hotel Waldorf. 
. Aatorla 

... Kmpire Room 

Eddy Du'chlh' PrC' 
'.l.una Bobbins 
Li-w Sherwood. 
Tuny Leonard ' 
Johnny 'Drnkf 
l.aniiy Ross . '. 
Bob Neller 

. Hurricaiie ... . 
Gdille Bush Pro 
Lolira Cordoba 'Ore 
Jtoino Vlncpiit.' 
Joan Merrlli . 
l)e Angelo & 'P' . ' ' 
Alma Ross 
Stallcr Twins . . ' 
.\laurlce & Cordoba 
Carolyn' Marsh 
llenny jroupgman ' 
l4i Co.nga 

Oarmeh Cavallaro O 
Norb Moralea-Oro ,\ 
randldb Botelhp . 
.Alalda, Ramsle & 'M 
Harris, Claire fi S 
' Ij» Martinique 
Loo Rclsman Ore ' 
Herbert Curbello Or 
Carlos Ramirez 
Patricia Bowman 

. Larue .. -. 
Eddie Davis Ore 
Joseph. Smith Pro 

I'O C.pq Rpnge 
FTnrold Nngel .Oro 
Krank Fonda' Pre 
;Mai-rella Hendricks 
Bniy Mure • . 

r.bon & Prfidle's 

I.oii .Martin. Pro - 
Uddle Davis' - 



Tlho Donelll — 

Jbe Bills Pro 
Lbulse Bryden 
Jeaii Walters : 
Roberta Welch 
Baron '.Gyldenkl'oa 
Log. \VlI|lBiT)8: 

Rainbow Grill ' 
']^arry \Vlnton . Pre 
Gloria- Hope 
Julian -'& Marjorl . 
J can Murray. - ' 
'' RnlnlHiw.. nooin . 

Eddie Le. Baron. Or 
Morris King. Pre 
Fernandez & Tere'a' 
Elvira nios: . 
Gall Uall 
Eva Barclnaka 
. RDb'nn. Blea 

Manucla Dei Rio 
Caspar .Reardon [■ 
Paula' Lawrence ' 
Vera SanolT' 
Herman Chlttlsoil 
Ituaalan Kretichma 
Nicolas . Matthey Pr 
Peter Neralrofr Pre 
Nastla Pollakova 
Maruela Sava 
Adia KuznetzOtt: 
Senia Karavaeff. 
Michel Mlehbtn 
Mlshl' Uzdat)of|l 
A'rjsiak Arafelova' .. 

..' Splvy's Roof 
-Hay'wop.i '4s Al lea 
Geo Lloyd. 
Betty' Bryant .. . 
Sylvan Gre.en 
Frank Sbtimann 
Splry . 

Stork Club 
Sonny .Kendis Pro 

Top lint 
(Vnloil^Clty, N. J.) 
Julie Wlntz Pro 
Heat Waves 
Aunt. Jemima. . 

Turrb'CIob 
Terry' Kliig Pro 
Lenhy Kent ' - 
Jerl WIthea 
Glenda-;Hope 
Oll.ve Fay . 
Be.e Kalniijs 

. - Vet-salllAs 
Nlciibla.s, D'Amlco.P 
Panchitn Ore 
Peggy P'ears 
Hal LeKoy -. 
John Hoysradt - 

Village Bnrn 

LOU Holdcn Ore. 
Pappy Below 
Fioria VestoK 
Npll & Nolan 
Sons - Purple Stage ' 
: Wlilrling Top 

'Ruasoll Rhodes - 
Geo Morris -Pro . . 
Ireile. Stanley ' 
Lou Holden Ore : 
Howa}-d ' & Lee 
Marcella Clair - 



Ids ANGELES 



Cray 

Ilotel - Esnex-, n«ui,<..j-,fifi;;„ 
Joe -Relchmah- Oro . Ijtbrlnhe p'avle 



- nil (.more: 'Howl - 
Jiiiniiy . Caiatle 
Dbi'othy' 'Brandon . 
• MtayiJmlth ... 
B.-irba'i a ^lane 
JtoKor."! Dane ' ; 
B :l)anvilla. . ■ 
:;. Dce'.a . ' . .. . 
C li li'ck Foster Pro ' 

' .C'usa. MaDiin^ 
SeHi'le's. & Lene ■ . ~ 
:i '.Inya ■ . . :. 
l3ei) r'oUack Pro 

'iCiub.. hull. • ■ '.< 
.Jiill 'Horwit^ .V 
SiH.i'loy; iJteWal't - 

- :('bcoanut:.<;rove ; 
("iou'cr & Jeanne - - 
(^ilBavy Bi-.os - 
IVe ij <1 1 e V SIu r 1 1 n ■: Pre 

. .'. Ear] . Cnrrol) . ■' 

J iiliiiiy '. Durante . '. '. 
li'rnrik ■ LlbUBb- . 
Marmot }itaniev . . 
.l^lnst^'r ' Sl.iaver ' 
(Jll.vb. .&.'Gcbtge. 
ji P'ol/bnairs '■: 
llpryl Wallace. '- " 
\si .('Inir Si Day . 
Krankie ConvUla . 
Sunhio . Dale . •' 
.Ithuiiiba Ore . .' '.' 
Sin IP. Bros . 
nil) Brady 
Manny iStrand Ore 

PInrpntlne Garden 

•^i'Tfi' Cth Edition 



Nat Bratidwynno Or 
.TuanUa juarez C>rC 
AtlelnlUe' .MofTett 

^.M^******' J a *^li*'t^%t-* jf * %. «'.r^<^4^>•t.4,.4.<<.A-f^w^4v■<^-«'.t■<f.> -t 



Tanla- de , Arhgbn -' 
David'. Marshall' Ore 

.'' Forty .-One Club • 

Candy. &'-Cooo - 
Tornmy 'Rilcy Orb- ' 
Grace' 'Iliiy.es 'Lodge 

A-nl wa i.Hbys ■' 
PbterLjnd- 
Pa t bwyer' '- 
-Hbb.by ISVans - 
.Grace H.iyes' ■' ■' 
.RclVoci-a Haves ' 
I?out.Kle WilllaniB Or 

Hoirae of Murpliy ' 

■Jean . Mouhiei* ' 
..Reih- Roynolrts . '. 
-F-ronkie .G.illngher 

(fordbn J3lsliop 

B.Ob. Mi^i'rpiiy -..-.. 
■ ■. v'jt' Chfe '- 
David' Forr/!a(er' Or 
.:'— -'La 'Conga;-':. 

M'p.dliia & .Meiiibfla 
Panchb. Cnrhicnlfia. 
Paul.' NblKhhors. Pre 
Mart.inque Rh'bd'.Bd 

- Puilndliim 

A-rtle : Sliaw Pro - 

-Paria Inn . - * .- 
Kenny, - ^llehr-yson r ' 
-Dp'hiiMlc. ' ■'. 
Marg'rlte.&.M'rtlnei! 
Hopry Monet. 
Peter Lourghs 
Helen Cnlden 
Davey -.Tamlsoh . 
Dorothy Heller : 
Helen-' jia'r-rlsbh-. . 

.'- TiJ'.*M.A<* -..- & ktfc. 

Y ♦. /► Vl'v • •• ! .'. <■ M: V ' 



Dancing Co-Eds , 
Don. St Beverly . 
' BInckstona ' Hotel. 

(Ballneso Rm.) . 
jay eble Ore 

Brev'oiirt Hotel . 
. (Crystal' Raom) .. 

Mae Klriii 
3:NlblIcs 
Dob Bllllnga. 

Bro'ndihon'i ' 
Blllie Garland 
Lucille Ford 
Jean AndroSvs. 
Do.t Carlson .(<ls 
Herb! U'idolphs Pro 

Clies Pares. ' 

Lou Brecab Pro 
Jane Frph'if^an 
Joe E I<ewia . ' 
Chandra-Kaly Dane 
Robll|on Twins 
Bvana 'Gl» .'■', 
Club A'labiira 

Charlotte Van Dae 
Marlon Moure 
Harriet N'Orrls' 
'A116n Cbe 
Bornle Adler 
Betty Hill 
Inez Cam(>ol 
EKle Burton 
Pauilette La Pierre 
Dave. Un<!ll Pro-- 
Dorothy Dale 
Eddie Roth Pro 
Cliib Hlniiet 
Helene Carol ■' ' 
Rita Ray - 
Alvlra Morton. 
Ethel -Brbwn 
Fillmore Sherman ' 
Art. Fischers Ore 
Del Est'es -. 

ib^lohy Cliib 
Saeasas Pre ' 
Monchlla Pro 
ColoRimos 

Eddie White 
D'agmar 

Hazel -Manjean Gis 
Jaiilce Davenport 
JHck Prince 
F Qiidrtell Pro : 

iciub Dellsa 
Billy Mitchell 
.Cyclone Morgan 
Blllie Eckstein. .' 
De Alexander 
Chippie Kill 
$ Jitterbugs 
Rhythm Willie 
Cjiarles Isom 
Parlpllo Gls ; 
Red Siiiinders Ore 

- -CnngreNR Ilotel 
(OJitsa Hilt Rni) 

Jbii'niiy Uan'sa Ore ' 

' (Peacock Rm). 
Joe -V<»ra 
Kdgewat<>r Beach 

Hotel 
. (Beach. Wiilk) 
-Rlchiird .Hlpiber Pre. 
'Dor -Dorben GIb : 
-Mel'b Foole;-" . ' 

. Ifranke.'H Caaino '. 

Harriet EhrUck 



Rocky ' .Ellsworth- ' 
BUlie::Wcbb ■ 
Ann Anderson- 
DIvk Cbnirad . . 
Bbt> Tlhsiey pre 

. 'flraentere Hotel' . 

(Giass Ilo'nsc R.in)'i' 
Lew Sto.ry' Pro,. 
Mario I^wler . 
'Nord.-RlchArdsoii : .-. 

. - ^iTanh'oo ' ', 

^Flbrehce'Sciiuiierk 

A.I Trac»c. .Orf ' 
.Holly ■ Swan'son .' 
Helen Suiunor..- -'. 
Al .Velrra Ore . .; 

;.' i.'A jgloh- :';■ '''■ 

Emit beBilyl Pro v 
D.brbthy Ubansbn ' 
A rsen'e . SlegeV . 
Isobel da Miaroo 

Hotel IJt Salle 
(Bliie i^oiit Room) 

Kings .Testers 
Ruth,. MUain 

. Liberty. V 
Karen Slephan'y'-' 
Marlon Crawford-', 
Jane- La Vonne 
banllee.-' 
Jimmy O'Nell ■ 
Sunny Lovett 
Earl W,Iley Orp 

.-' Mbrri'ton vriotel. 
- " (Boston oyster - 
• Hotise) 

Manfred Gbllhelf 

•! New' Yorker - ..'•• 

Doily Kay ' :'. 
CbrdOD. A'. Sawyer ' 
McDonald & Ross 
Blllie Maychell 
Palsy, p.ell . , . . 
Linda Preston 
Hbveler Gla 
Arna 'Barnett Pro 
Al Milton Pro 

. Old ileidelberr 

Irma Cooper . ' ' 
Sally Sharratt 
HelJflhcrg Octette ■ 
Heidelberg-Ens 
Joliy F'.anzt Ore 
Franzei Pre 

Palmer Iloaso . 
(IKmplre Room) 
Ray Noble Pro 
Lathrop-Biros &'Lee 
Fi'ankly h D' Amour - 
Frank. Paris 
Maxlne Tappan . 
Abbott Dancera 
Phil Doole'y Pro 

- Sliernuih ilutol 
(Celilb .Cafe) 

Gene : Kc'rwin Of:o 
Jaros Sia ' 
. (I'anthe'r ' Room) 
Fats Waller Ore 
Bob Zilrke 
: MardonI & Louise 
Malo .Trio 
Kay Perry 
Carl Marx. 

''Sllyer Clond-. 
Aldy Carr ' 
(loldlngs 
Colletle Doyle" 
Babet.te Gls 
Elinor Daniels 
Hazel- Zalus : 

600 Club 

Billy car*- 
Margret Fabor Gls 
Boots Burns . 
Irene Kaye 
Jerri Vance 
Jackson & Nedra 
Betty Shayhe 
Carrie FInnell 
Barbara McDonald 
Rence Andrle 
Maxl.ne De Shon 
Virginia Jones . 
Millie Wayne 
Cecil Von Dell 
Margo . 

Jo Ann . Carroll 
Sol Lake Orb . 
Tripoli 3 ' - 

TlioinpBon's 10 Club 

ilene Enierald. ■ 
Mary Lbulae -' '> 
Si-d Scha'pps - 
Eddlo Danders; 
Bob Danders ' 



PHILASELFHIA 



Club. Ball 

.A'la.n; -Fielding Pre ■ 

Vlrgiyla' Ituiiibs' 

Jlarinnha/- 
.-Estpllo.'',t -Papb ■ 

C'.ni-,ib- t'hnriD'uVs . ■ . 
;JTbotbr -i)ol. Vlllar -. . 

Alberto' Toi'rcs . 

-Lita -Jloya- ' 

Beii Franklin' ; 

.f;iy(ie:-'r,Uf as- -QrO 
- Ijyn Lut'as,. - -, 
A lire (ilov#r -. 
Waller La: Jlae;. 

..lieniiy; -Bum's. 

.M orty;. 1 ^a mils; Or% /' 
Mar.i.e . l-turhcil ... 
.Criadys Grant--- 
Uochcllb d'orxloii'.. 
Lyiinc .tihvcli.au ' .. • 

.; Calrnirii ! ; 

Reda '& ' C'lirley. ' 

Beverly- ..^Vhlte: 
. jliniiiy.'.-AniH'rsoii 

ilar'leiri l>l(,!lai6re 
■ 2. Luck Bucks' 

Jeiinlfe Dancer' 
.'Jack' Nablpy 

Pi'lnceHa -Vnlda .' - 

May DIsBs- -. ; 

Julia KufiI.er: 

Copper Gls -' 

;' . ". :iriiii»' III ■ ': 

Paplb'ha i'al^e Pro- 
Ro.se :Vohull 
5 lihy.thnieltps :.- 
Harmony Trio' . 
Amy Prgnn ' 

.-.4 . . -■.' - 



Barbara Stone 
Crescent Lbg. Cnblii 
(Gloucester Uglit's, - 

- - .*(,.J.)- '.,. 
Evelyn Regan '' 
Dottle Day- - . : 
Collet te-. Topper '-.' ■ 
ytbla Kltiise Pro ,- 

. '.-.Ciisitnp's- ' 

Lou ..ForJarto ■ ■ 

Kay Trot tor- ' 

Dbttio Bb'lliwirer ■ 
TSelsy: Balit '. . 
.Kribila Hcnpiin- 

Ha,i ry Smith - . 

Ralph -Sdiiner's. Pre 

,'. C'nAlilae .Tuve'rn .- ' 

Alien Stcniinff ' - 
Hiid.d'y Lifiwis .' 
Dla» & Diane: ; 
Arhlnp & -Barbara . ' 
(^a(lillac .Scxl(>t' 
3 Muslral Riffs ' 
Hariy D<ibba" Pre 

; ; pi IJIilttTs : ■ 
Eddie . King Sjfi 
Dave Stclncr '- . . 
' r'br.raln-o:.Clibvalller- ' 
'l':vonli(J Kerr ' ; 
Marie,- J3' Laura &~F 
;'KM»i)a»Hy '.: ..'.' .'-: 
A'del'e. Kor'ella ' 
Julio RavolI ' . - . 
Geo Clifford ; - 
Dnvb Kelly. 
Earl Comfort - 
Grade Rellly 
JbliMiiy Parrisl).} 

* I • »-.»."«'.«>». ^ '* '.- ':'. 



Adele Norella 
Peggy ONblll 
Betty .('arlyle 
Sub Carlyle- ' 
Elaine Miller 
Beverly Kirk 
Cliff nail: 
Cnrlbn Reyes Pre.'; 
Curt Weiler Pxp - 

Eversreen Caslud 
Beth Chalila 

^H.elaliie'.'A bon'ilsbn 
Vai ■yontalne . ,> 

.-Tdrmen'Mbnlbya 
H.elen Brooks ' ■' .' 
Pat Shcvlin Pro 
1028 Lornat. 
Bubbles Slielby: 
Peggy MvCloud 
Mary Hoo-ve'r' "' 
Emily Saunders : 
Elaina. Block ' : 
Lorraine Rhoda': - 
Mickey Deb ' -- 
Keller Sis '. 

. Boa, Sack 0-. 

-Kay- Laney ' 
Kings of SwIiiir .Ore 

.■'•'Henri's'." 
'Andra '& Frances 
Jeania Rice 
Tremor '& 'Claire . - 
. Dea .Rbgere .'-' : 
Leaky. Brbs; '- 
Jim'my. Kbogan - 
Chas Verne's : Pro ; 

: Aotel Adelphla ''■ 
' (Clnb.Margnery) '-' 
Doit Renaldb Pro " 
Dl Gitanos." 
■Eadia Lanjg . 
Paui;Rlch • ' 
-Estelle.'Sl'oa'ne-.;- 
(k Walton Boor).; 

Vincent liifzo Oro 

Le Paul ^ 

Patricia King ' ' 

Grace George ' 

'Helen- Heath - .. 

Jtocbelle Gordon . ' 

:Bob- Russell 

Nino' Noni 

Vera Nlvia. 

Loula' MorHsbn. ., 

Lee Lamont . 

Mayrls ..Chaney ' 

:'Edwar'<] Fox.. . 

Nell Fontaine Ore 

Augusta Sanabla'^Pr 
Hbtel. Phllndelphlia 
(PhUadelpIila Rm) 

Jack Millard 

Maurice &.-Maryea .' 

Curlotta Dales . 

Nick Wharton's Pr 

Hayea W'atsop- ' 

Darro Davis " 

Billy Kenny 

t, Frolicettes' . 
Uolel Stcplmn 

GIrnrd 
(Crystal Room) \ 

Slim Oalllard. 

George Iievln 

pat CilleS 

"■. Jam Session 

Mickey Houhs- - 
Freddy Kornfeld 
Billy Kretchmer - 
Joe Veri-echia . 
Teddy Walters 
Hopklns'Rathskeller 

Danny Mbn'tgo.'mery 
Irving- Braslow-'s Pr 
Eleanor Landy 
Dorrie . - ■■ 
Sunny Rae 
Shannon .& Meln 
Jeannie Van '. . 
Slngln' Sain . ' 
Audrey Joyce 

Lntlm'er- CInb 

Ann Rush ' 
Barbara - BradJey- ' 
Jean Rush < ' 
Julie Sherr 
Byelyri.'Hoyt 

• IJdo Venice. 

Frank. Reynold ' 
lona -Slrrade 
Dan Voraee Pro 
Jerry. Marcella . 
3 Pepi>ers 

Little Matlitikeller. 

Catliloen May ' - ' 
Jerry & Turk - -, - • 
Lee JFtodgo.rs 
De Lloyd 'McKay . 
Sally Keith , 
Victor Hugo Oro 

. Minstrel Tavern 
Slsale Loflus 
Gypsy Monia 
Dum.oht Minstrels 
Ed McGoldrlck, Jr 
Marglo Mar«h 
.Marriott's . R°.m Ore 
Manoa inn 

Jack Illtclilnson 
Edylhe Sallade 
C H'Wood Debs 
Vera. Verne 
Helen Doyle. 
Morris Mosl.ey -6ro . 
Diane Roclielle 
Frank Cuneb Oro 

- ^Inya's 

Jean 6'Neii: 
Andy Russell 
Rlta-"Robei-ts ; 
Buck- Calhoun ' 
Mbd^iilrte SliPl-lflan 
Anita . Jn'med. 
Joe La I'ata Ore - ' 

'. MonlRohier^'s.. 
T.enny Rqhb '. 
Prln'rc-ss LIna- 
Dayey Lajden 



Dolly V4p)fhn. 
Leon Casanu .' 
.Anna MuntRKinery 
Fran 'Caswell . 
Pelin Fay Oro . ' 

Fark Casino 
Eddie Weber! 
-Vivian Vance -. 
Clair & Arena' 
>tarj Qalhaworth 
Sally; LaniaiT ' 
I<ou Grass -Orp' . 
Old Covered . Wagba 
■Viralfer Jbltrey.' • , 
Mlcky.Famllant 
Paia.nibo!s 

il '-C.ratkerjaeka' 
Pels' Traltb 
Klppee Velpz ais . 
Kay Hamilton . 
Howard Reynolds 6. 
Jane & Anthony- - 
' -' Bark 'Cnsin*,' -.-' " 
Sonny .SaUiidere' '.- . -' - 
Lou .dress' Oro ' 
Vivian. Likely - 
Clair & -Arena-: 
Jimmy Keogan - 
Ma^jo^leOalnB'wortl^- 

Red Hill Inn 
(Pennsanhen, N> J.) 

Laura Off 
Dotty Pay ton : 
Lou ^oyle 
Siniles.-& Smiles ' ' 
VIvl Austin 
Harry Holly 
Neff Bros & Fisclieir 
Florence Morton . 
Eddie -King Ore; . 
Ber'nipo -Arnold -' 
Corn :Bread .fk Ciillp 
Diane Colllef -.'•- 
Sid Kaymorid 
Dolores 
De Lamars' 
Little' Van .Osborne 
Dutch, ft Dutchle- 
Oeth; ist..: itathskellev 
Joyetles.' ' ^ 
Frank l^lncaura. ' 
Frniik Swaiiee : 
Tlie Rockwella . ' . ' 
Sandy MacPherao'n ' 
Bobby Le« .Ore 

-School Aouse In'n-: 
Lou. Martin . 
Lbhnle Little 
McKeown'a Dane. 
Jbe Armstrong . . 
Marie Latell 
Peggy Shields ". 
Jlninvle VenutI Pro - 
Sliyer :Lol(e Inn .. 
Stirling ft RuWa£ . . 
Don Co.van- - - ; -' 
Sunorlta I^nt :. 
Lewifl: Bo/land 
Frank Hessel-'Prp 
RendezToiis 
(Hotel Senator) 
Bcaln St Boy's: 
Pearl .Williams i 
Men pr Rhythm. 
Stamp's 

George .'Afa'rrhettI 'O 
Vinpent'-ft Iia-na 
Ora'po O'Hara . 
Pinky Mitchell 
Hazel Calloway .. 
Dotty Dorral -' '■ 
Gall Shaw 
Variety Girls 

. Stork Club . 
Helen Wllson 
Lillian Fitzgerald : 
NetT Bros & Fisher 
t Novele.ttea 
-Jimmy' Fitzgerald - 
'Marty Collins 
Henry Pii'trlck Pro 
AVngon Wheel Curo 
Ray Fitzgerald . 
Al WMBon . 
. Iibrraine W.IIe'y 
Cortez ' ft T.,opez -. 
-JUdlth Johnson Co 
Carrie Lee 
Al Baatlan Pro 

. Venice Grille 

Joan - Gardiner 
Lollta 

Johnny Hinds 
-Judy Garland- - 
-Fay Wray. 
Eddie Tliomns 
Nora WlUlnms - 
Bert; Lemlsc'h Pro '. 
. Warwick Hotel 
Ray -Morton Pre - 
' .Weber's llof Bran 
.. Cnnidpn 

Jules Flacpo Pre 
Curran Bligh 
Tia Slltnn 
Syd Golden ' 
Rntlis'r Kldoradlan* 
Bobby Whaling . . 
Yvetjlo 

Iia Rorhiy ft Relna 
The Can-oils 
Paul Hnbln.ion 

.. WIlNon's 

Riiylhm Maniacs 
Great Rorheya 
JaC.lc. Lano . 
Ronnie Jcvrrls' 
Jba Hon'gh 
The Klla'rps 
Geo Daqiiet Pro 

. : ■ Yacht Club 

Frank Po'nll. - ' ..'', 
Mariano ft D"o' Vpl 
-Woody' lyrbslicr 
i^adlpe .WhHti 
Edrfle Mnlliew 
Mary ' -Nay is . 



PITTSBURGH 



Aiiclioriige, ... 
Hugh 'Morton Pro 
'Mayiiard : Dciine ■ • -. 

'Arlington .Lodge" . 

R by .'Farrell Pre ' 
.Sully 'Latig' ' -': 

: . BaOhclurH^ -Club 

Al Turnfcr Pro \. . 
Franccfl ..-M.c.Cby. 

^BulcoiiiideS .,'• 

j'tte- Vllie'lla-: '-. ' 
Bill .Green'B . • 

r^tLy lon . Palipy Orb 

-Jenn- .lii'n'ls 

Dull wUsonV 
'Bob llunVinllt - 

Ke.n -IJoycr 
'npogle^Wnogie.-'.t^iuU 
-BopK -' Sliprnian 

Izzy NgtJi 

Buddy-' Walsh .; 

Nutsy Fiignn 

Harry Coiiiorada' .' . . 

Pocky ' JJ'Farlan 

Tiny Millpr ' 

Bernle' Crawford' ■. 
Oiuh PetK'e - . 

Freddy ..'Castle Ci^P 

. ' •■ (CQntlrtuetj 



Mary Ki-.log 
George JInpre- . 
Ginger Allirn.' -. ■ 
- Cork and- .Boltle 
-Jacif^ Davis, .' 

. : lC4l'dia Pc'y Ion's 

Bill. ('a'nil')l).pH .pro. 
(Tfli-OlIKe- IMooro - ' 
MaVl irai'i-niid 
Marlon .Wulier'.- 
Ijlddlp PuyVori- 

/ 151. tiliii'o" 
Don -Mai-lb Pi-o 
-Mavldnno . 
(ip.r'ardil-' Dane': 
Pbople Cain.plllp-. 
■Ilo.iol Fort I'it,t 
ICcn' Xlnllpy Ore: .- 
Jphnny Mllrhcll 
Jpsiiiod- Wu'eniley . 
Harry- iValtoil . 

... Holoi Henry . 
:. (.Silver' (lirill) , 
hu'ly. Trearhpr Orb 
Siindy. Davidson' . 
Flo Parker, '.;,.' 
Jba It Wonrts . .- ', 

(Oriy OO'a) 
Dorptli.y Ncshitt 

OR : p^ge 46): : 



WcdricBday , January 1 ,■ 1941 




on B'way 



Contributing factor in Broadway's .offish business at the start of the 
holiday period: may be the indicated shutting off ot Canadian vaca- 
tioners. Pominion authorities issued an edict reminding civilians that . 
wir . economies , niust. be made. ., Tliey, weri . to^ liot . to.- indulge in 
luxuries, particularly Am6rican-made materials. ' 

Between 100 and 200 trains froin. Canada have 'been usual at Christ- : 
ihas and. Eabter.Jtiitje In the past, and.lt is said- the schedules W^re cph- 
islderably curtailed. Reported, too, .that Cianadlani entering the states 
"at holiday:.thne ,wMe ordered , to taJte;,but a limited amouiit bf rnoney '\ 
with: them;, :"■■-■".■•■:,■"';■:■>:■• 











XEGItlMAlE 41 



PLAY-READING SUBS 
FOR LEGIT IN MAINE 



:. Broadway's oldest sho.wmin, Dari- 
lei .Frohriian, .died Thursday at the 
Xeroy V sanitarium, N. Y,;,' Thursday, 
':(26),' where he .wis movfed ,firom his 
Bister's apartment after i^iipping there 
and , fracturing a hip early last 

. month. His age was given as 89, but 
It , .is Uhderstpod that the veteran 

■ head, of •the/ Actors Fund of America 
Was twipi iyears older., . " • ■ 

,The last of the Frohmans,. save for 
i bister, was recently, reported tak;- 
ing ripurishment and resting com- 
fortabiy, but it was generally known 
that he could iftot sUrvive such an in-- 
jury at : his age and days befpire die- 
mise he dropped Into , ai coma. He 
Was almost totally blind and -a? .vi-:' 

• sion failed in .recent years it was a 
miracle that he was able to cross 
Broadway unassisted without being 
struck by a car, 

Frohman wrpte his own obit two 
years agb^ and- it Tcvealied his con- 
nection with newspapers. That train- 
ing .was reflected in later years, but 
to the few who were. In the know he 
was. an exciellent source of news, 
often regaling callers tp his .studio 
and living quarters , atop the Lyceum' 
theatre on West 45th street, .which 
was cluttered with works of arfr iind 
theatrical, mementpe^. During per- 
formances downstairs he would frcs-^ 
quently remove a panel fteai* the 

..floor of the large principal room 
and .look 'down upon the stage. 
. Fine Sense of Humor 
Frbhman's sense of hunior was an 
outstanding part of his, character. His 
menlofy was prodigious and he could 
recite whole plays by Sliakespcarc. 
GPnyerscly, Frohman could and did 
tell the stbry of a Shakespearean 
work in four or .five lines. He wns 
often' asked to address womcn'.s clu.bs 
and rarely refused, but stipulated a 
fee, anywhere from $100 to $500, 
which was paid to the Actors Fupd. 

Frohrnair<f activi'ties aS a pmNvcer 
belong to another gerieralioji, his 
principal. Interest in later life being 
.the .Actors Fund, which helps indi- 
gent arid, ill prpf essionais, contributc.<i 
to hospitalized cases arid buries ,the 
dead in the'plot; at KctiSicb, N. Y., 
The Fund, under his dlrectipri for 
37 years, has been the most efficient 
of theatrical- charities, conducting a 
home- at Englewood, N, J., and 
granting sums weekly to a long list 
of applicants. It is especially en- 
deared to old prdfessiphals who fre- 
quent the Fund offices, referred to 
by them as the 'Journey's End Club/ 
When the Fund headquarters was 
not promptly. hPtifled of Frohman's 
passing there wis wagging . of heads 
and the same applied to the Jewish 

'Theatrical .Guild, Announcement of 

- his passihg arid the iuneral arrahfie- 
inents were rriade by Percy Moore; 
head of - the Episcpp.arActbrs Guild: 
Services wei'e held Monday (30).. at 
the Little Church Around the Cor- 
.ner; which -is pi"actically that Guild's- 

. headquarters. Deceased had been ac- 
tive in that group for years and cx- 

.. pressed the Wish to be buried frpm- 
'the'LiUle'Chulch; . . 

, " Membei^- of All Ifelifc.ions ! 
. Frohniari: w^as . ai riicmber ' of the. 

.:■ Jewish, V .Catholic and ' Episcopal 
Guilds.; Services were cpridiucted ..by 

, ReV; Randolph; Ray,; rector' Pf the 

■^ Llltlie. Church, with Rabbi Benjamin 

; A. Tiritrier, chaplain of the. Jewi.* 
Guild also participating. A bas-relief 
of Frohman hangs In the church and,. 

. when it was -dedicated three yeats 
agoj he said:r 'I am a member of, all. 

^ religions. 1 believe: in: all religions, 
that bring good to pepple'; .Funeral 
arrangements were riiade by .Henry 
baviSon, a nephew. Burial was .in 
Union Field^ Long Islarid, orthodox 
Jewish ; cemetery, where an Episco- 

.'. paliari minister,- Rev. Harry, ,F.;- Le-. 

, \ molrie, said: the prayers. 

, 'The grand old m^ri of the theatre', 
'■fiir he was alluded to, entered the 
show business as advance nian, for 
Callender'i MlristreiB , and that in- 



creased his kriowledge of the coun- 
try,- information;- that was yaluabie 
in. the handlirig' of : road , cpriipaniea 
later , / Frohman's first corinectiori 
:in New York Was with the- Madisdh 
,Square theatre, where he Was busi- 
ness manager and the late David 
Belasco was stage manager. He then 
leased" the old- L,yceum at - Fourth 
avenue and'. 23rd stree^t, later -razed 
to make: way for the , Metrppolitari 
Life Insurance :bUildirig.- For a tinie 
lie operated: Daly's on , Brpadway; 
■ Uptown Lyceiiin His Pet 

iiis most permaheTit interest Was 
In the 'new' Lyceum, built 'in .1903, 
front of the house being , the most 
ornate of Bi;;badWay show shops, He 
was pnje-fthird^ owner along- With 
Wjlliam . Harris, ' Sr„ arid Chairles 
Frohman. The latter and Belasco 
leased the theatre and alternated in 
bpoking their shows in it. When he 
stopped producing, the Lyceum was 
Frohmin's prlncipdi spurce of. iri- 
come and a succession of successes 
madib; him secure. Recently the 
house was held by a barik and When 
foreclosure loorried it Was . made 
clear that Frohriian could . have occu- 
pancy of tlie sttidio for the balance 
of - his life. The apartment waS 
reached by a tiny elevator. ~ . 
. Charles More Spectacular 

Charles Frohman was the' more 
spectacular one of the brothers. He 
headquartered at . the Eriipire 'with 
the also hard to reach Hay mans (Al 
and Alf), whp, with Charles, Av'ere 
iriipoi tant factors in the Klaw & Er- 
.l,anger theatrical empire called 'the; 
'syndicate'. Charles went down -with 
the liiisltan'a, torpedoed during the 
first Worid War, arid made the dra- 
matic 'rch-iark. on deck: .'Death is life's 
greatest, adventure,'. - . 

Deceased was, editprialized in three 
T^ew York dailies, the Times, Herald- 
Tribiine arid Wi>i'ld Telegram, plus 
many out-of-town papers. With his 
high cbUar and sparse chin whiskers, 
he was tabbed; ariiong the imriiortals 
pf :thc theatre:, 0"ric writer put it: •He 
belongs among the great managers. 
His bid agC; was sound,, honored arid 
happyl He was a remembrance of 
the past who kept step with the, pres- 
ent'; 

Many stage riamc'^ appeared at the 
(Continued on page 42) 



Barigbr. Me;,:'.bec, 31. ' 

Readirig. , of , current , hit plays by 
.various Maine readers before. 'soclai 
grbups at one .kind arid : ariotiier is 
becoming more. arid more of a busir 
hesS, without; the ;play wrights' get- 
;tlng ariy, 'of 'the. rtadirig- fees. ■ 
; :With the decline ; pf. the theatre m 
Maine,, except dwring : the suitiriier. 
wheri the .strawhats 'thrive, reading 
of plays in Portland, state's largest 
.city; stepped up^. Now it- is catching^ 
,pri. in.othe'r .cities. Sb iriiich so,- that- 
several .better .knpwn readers: art 
building iip circuit's for themselves; 
, > Orie, 'woman,, a former actres.s' and 
rip\y the -Wife of a court ,6ff icial, , .hias: 
been: readirig plays with increasing 
isuccess. for some ye^rs. .She is riot 
alohe,. however; in bppkirig variouii 
brganizatipn.s" for, fa. series of four f.lo 
six plays to be read during the win-, 
ter season, usually bri a monthly . or 
■serni-impnthly- .balsis. . 
. .;In the same line .are th6se~ giving 
book reviews. Several -wbriien have 
biiilt this i.i)lo a pin-hioney sideline,- 
although profitable. Woriien's clubs 
arid church organizations are the 
usual; bookers of this eritCTtaiririieht. 

Right how 'Life- Wilhi Father', is a 
popuiai: reading-huniber; 'Skylark* is 
being. r(?ad frequently ;' and others 
that :are popular ihciude 'Th^ Fhil-. 
adelphia Story ,^ .JThev, Little Foxes' 
and 'There Shall. Be. No Night;': 



New B way Show Amvak (M; 




Shows in Reh^rsal 



■ 'Mbf tty V- J.oric$'-T-'T h a t r. e '.. 
,Guild,. • ,- 
;. -;TinyaTd '. Street'77:Jack ,Kirk- ■ 
. land. 

: ;Xhe' Cream In {life- Well'-^i 
Gariy Wharton, Martin Gable,' 
;,' :-'-Mr. -;and: Kirs.'. North'^fAlfred-.-'- 
de Lialgre;. Jr. ^ 



LEGIT IHGRS; BACK IDEA 
T(^#I^BDS NUISANCE 



Wreckers Take Over Old 



In 



; ;^ ; Philadelphia, Deb. 31;; , 

•The Nixoiv-^Grand Theatre, biiilt -52 
years ago ai the, Grand Opera House, 
is being torn, down, Workrtien be-; 
gan razirig the- building on Saturday 
(28) after it had been lying idle fbr 
more thari three years. 

Built iri 1888,, it was run] fbr many, 
years by the -rJational Opera , Cb. 
Later, it ,became a yaude house, iahd 
recently had been used /or pictures 
arid Negrb ynudeville. It' had a .ca- 
pacity of 3,500, , " 
. The site-may be utilized for 
per-grpcery market. 



Treasurers' Officers 



At the Sl.st , annual meeting- pf the 
! Treasurers' Club, .Allen J.' Sch'neb- 

• be.; Lyccuri),.N/ Y;, was elected ptes- 
I ident for- -the fifth successive term. 
: Saul Abraiiani..- :manager of. ^Retreat 
i to Pleasure,' Belasco, was re-elected 
: vice-president; , Irving - Erigcl, Win- 
i tcr Garden, was miide treasurer for 
; the first time: Lep Solomon, LpngT 

• acre, named financial secretary, aijd 
|.Thu^ber.; 'S^'iHcirt.s, Met opera house, 
! recprdirig secretary, both . .the latter 
j, being -riew officers. ,, 

I Elected .to the bo.nrd for two years: 
, Earl .Lewis! George Handy, Aarpri 
' Hellwitz, Thomas Clark, William 
Metz and ' Jack Wallum, , 



'BrbadWay mariagers have igorie:on 
record as favoring the plan of Maybr 
LaGuardia and Police Commissibnei: 

Valentine to • forbe Interstate ■buses . 
out .of; tine riiidtpWri district. Thie 
heavy vehices npt only have inter- 
fered With, traffic 'arpurid -'.curtain 
tiriie, but Vspme perfprmances -hiv? 
be.en disturbed by racing mptors and- 
exhaust furti'es haye added, to.- the 
nuisaincev ' -Streets ■. riibstly , used by; 
the buses aire inclusive frpiiri;41st to: 
.45th, and the. blocks, l^rorii BrbadWay 
to . Eighth avenue' ha'iie the bulk 'of 
legit theatres;, Gbnceded that . the 
buses, bring: in ." piairbnage io Bi-pad- 
way .picture .hbuses, but hardly to 
legiters..: ' .,:,'•-..• 

City is ho,w;cbrisldering' a plan ^or 
concentrating buses, jn ; the , midtpwn 
district.. Proposal comes frofii , Mc- 
Graw-Hill Publishing Co. quartered 
on ' 42nd street west of ; 8th .avenue. 
Publishing outfit would build a iarge, 
terriiinal- nearby,, with eritrance- and. 
e kit .by tunriel.' . , .-. ; * 



Reg Denham's B'way Play 
Mm Return to H'wood 



Reginald Denh^m, who returned 
from the Coast last week after do- 
ing the screenplay ,for ■Alexander 
^Korda's 'I Have iBeeri Here Before,' 
:wlll stage a Brbadway play before 
gbing -baclt to Hollywood to .adapt 
' his and. Edward Percy's legit thriller, 
I -Ladies , in- Retirement,* for Columbia., 
, He has offcrs-to direct several shows 
and expects to accept one within the 
next-yreck^ .^ .: 

On his W^y ea.st the playwright- 
director was: in the wreck , of the 
Streamlirier, escaping injury, when 
the observation car, in which he was 
sittirig up . jate reading, was derailed. 



.BHI Doll now handling 'Charley'.s - 
Aunt' publicity as an associate of 
Charles Washburn. J 



ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 

NEXT WEDNESDAY. JAN. 8 






of 




Advertising Forms Close Friday^ Jan, 3: ; 
No Advance in llatek or H<$wssUir^ Price pj 




■ iiiiy suh^eribers and reatlers buy extra copies of Variety's; 

aamversary issuer t^^^ ? 

; : / 

NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD 'dlflCAGp LONDON 

154 W. 46th St 1708 N. Vine St v 54 W, Randolipb St a>. Mdrtiii'i) PL 



' "Ihe hoped-fpr change in- the qualit7 
pf shows, coniirig . to Broadway .bc^ 
curred last .week,' When jour but,. of 
live, arrivals , Were - clasised; ^as , poten- 
tial. suceesses; which is iin.MnuSualiy 
liigli; percentage. Two /straight ' pl^iya 
and a pair- of, musicals. r.eceiS'ed- the 
npd^ but Whether they Wiil land ini 
the sock class ' is ■ not , clear;, ' for, 
despite good . notices, ; busiries.s was 
hardly; what it ihbuld hiave been 
with one e^ccepiipiny . 

Attendance during Christrinas week 
was disappointing, be}iig -iight - Until 
Friday. Then .-business . approxi- 
mated , the . heavy . - holiday . voliime 
i With a ■last'-minUte .rush. Agen- 
cies had key men . ' '. duty Sunday 
to accommodate incpriilrig y isitbrs, 
but there were few sales. Monday 
(30), however, .the brokers reported 
lively .business. Three musicals 
playedr matinees then ° and. a\\ iolii 
out* '.. the . shows: being 'Panama 
Hattie,': 46th Street, 'It Happens on- 
Ice, . Center, and . 'Lpuisiariai Pur- 
chase.' ''■■. <■. '. ' . ' ' -' ■:' : 
, Advance' sale for New Year's ' Eve 
was ; under .normal Up to Monday. 
Agencies sold out. allotments for tha 
upper, floors, b'ut; there, was liUle.-call 
for the orchestifa seats. Again it niay 
be a matter Pf prices, as the; musicals 
tilted the top. to . $7. tO arid riibst of 
•the; straight leaders went to $5.50. 
Boxoffices kept tabs bn the agencies 
and, finding the selling was light, 
harrassed the brokers by setting 
early deadlines for the return of tick- 
ets, or else. However, the Garrison 
finish plus lowering of the high tap 
by the b.o.s ireversed the situatibri. 

Promising Premieres 
i Of the neW eptries; 'My, Sister 
Eileen' was accorded the strongest 
press. Reported selling but the sec- 
one night; much to the surprise of 
the .management, alw. a goodly per- 
centage of first-nighters. 'Old Ac- 
quaintance^ was cordially received at 
the Morosco and first week's, taltings 
were distinctly promising. "The riiusi- 
cal 'Pal Joey' dr.eW. sbnie ' fine re- 
views, but .there Was a difference of 
opinion Which was reflected, in the 
•business after the Wednesday (25) 
debut. . Word ; is around, -however, 
that "Joey* cian't .riiiss. .: 

'Meet, the People,' at the Mans- 
field, the. Cpast rCvue wi-iich bowed 
in . on the sariie evening ,- .'Joey/, 
won a good press f::orn second- 
stringers, arid repiorts bn, that revue 
are that it's ;a. good show arid aimed' 
for a. stay. Press for 'All .In .Fun,' 
Majestic, -was -mostly on the down 
.side ana. it folded Saturlay (29). 

'Cue for Passipri' sudderi.iy stopped 
at the Royale Saturday and at least 
one other recent newcomer wiil 
end it all this Saturday, 'Retreat to 
Pleasure' stopping at the Belascbj 
'Mr. & Mcs. North- coming in there 
next week, Premiere card for that 
period will be initiated by . -First 
Stop to Heaven,' opening .Sunday 
(5> at the Windsor. Other next week 
debuts: 'Eight o'Clock Tuesday,* 
Jind po.ssibly 'The: Hard . Way,' un- 
favorably iregarded biit of town. 

-^-^i■^-^^--^B:;-: 
Princetonian Actor Hurt 



' ; /Princeton; N,.^.;, Dec. 31-.^ 
While on a Chris.tmas holiday toiir 
With the Prlncetp^^ 
: .show, Albert VanCo'urti a member ,ol 
.the cast 'and TC-sidcnt of South Pa-sa- 
-. (lena, ,Cal., waS -'struck .and critically 
.■injured :i'y.,'a.n '.alitpinobile in: Wash- 
ington ori 'Chriitma.s Day, the day 
■ after the. "rrlarigle thcsplans gave a 
, ; performance at ;the National thcatrfl 
, there.. : He: is in .i Wa.shlngton ho's.- 
j pita! suffering from a possible skull 
. fracture and i.nterriaj; Injuries.; 

I . :VartG(5.urt, a . senior, is .sports edl- 
. to,r';'df \the Daily .Princetonian. 



Hillbilly Romeo 

V, 'A-Lpviri', ah', a-Feudin-,' dc.scribed 
.i.s, a hiilbilly ycrsiPn of 'Romeo arid 
Juliet', v/ith songs' arid music; will ,b« 
pibduced Feb. 4 for a twP-wcelc rur 
at the Pasadena playhouse; > AuthOii 
are Erik Barriouw, radio, writer .Am 
Cohimbia - University . lecturer) an< 
Ether. Park Richardson,, author ant 
authority, on Arrierlcbn folk mtislc 
Sarah Rollitt<: .of Coh'.mb)a ArtUti 
set the production deaL , ; * 



42 .. JU 



.Vrednc«)diiy» January 1> 19 11 



lectkMoiFoii 






Frohinaii>Qbit 

;Contihued jfrom pae<e 2; 




There have, been floiis (Jhv-Brbacl- 
yray that cost more money vsrid bth- 
er« which stofipied.'. tnore eLuick^y, • but;- 
none more iurlcJly lhati the collapse 
pt ' ^All in. FUti;' the ~ Leonard Siil-'- 
tnan reVue ■ that' folded, at- the Ma- 
jestic; Satjirday429), 3fter twp^ 
From^ the -iime the- ghQw ^o^iehed in 
NeViiavei and 'had to ^he flnanciai.ly 
- r^cued bj: two girls In the show in 
prder to reiach. Boston '^^t^^ outfit 
• vas in iioristant eruptiop, . .■ 

•fly;, the^ tiitie ;;th^ ■ ■aggregatloin 
reached New YbrkV it. was cracked 
along Broadwa)^: that . the tttle had 
been phanged' tb' 'Airirii' Cost; Of the 
■iioW was estimated at : $13^000. in- 
cluding! , tdad .losses. .Some :of the 
girls in -the', coiifjpany are known: to 
have put coin in the 'Fian,' others 
reported to have advanced sums to 
Sillman, prior to. sfnd -during re- 
hearsals,; in .ekchange-.fpr' which ; hfe.^ 
.either promised or . ihade contracts 
that they ! have ..song assignmehlts. 
Aiouind the company it . wis. claimed, 
thit it was an :audience ..show, bUt . 
that it' cpuldSnpt .qvercbnie the -ad: 
verse-.'-notlceS.: • .■' 

Airbng those who invested in 'Fuii' 
was Lynn togan,^ who. is' wed to a 
wealthy liiisband. She is -said to^ 
have put in $5,000 and when Sillmaiii 
vbugfaft more money , theris" was an 
argument, actress .stepping .but of 
the shbw. ■ Producer . .prefected 
.cheirges.. against her with .Equity, al- 
leging ihslibordinatiori .and. failure 
to follow directioh, t)ut theycharges: 
were drbpped when It was found 
thai the actress had ■ been : let out 
though having a run ^bf the play con- 
tract.' 

Phil Baker Bows Out 

Phil Baker- was . co-producer aiid 
In . New Haven : he annbunced there 
was . nd money to take the show to 
Bbstbh; Miss Logan and Dorothy 
Dennis are credited with raiisihg the 
required transportation. .As sbbh as 
the show: reached -the Hiib; trouble 
between. Baker and Sillmah 'Started, 
Vlth the former bbwing out. He had 
■\ put in arbUrid $17,000, which included 
coin from. Ben Berniei Fred Allen 
Jack- Benny and "Tyrone f'ower, eaich 
eontributihg around $2;000:. • 

'Fun* was ■ the . first major revue 
with a colored star/ Bill Robinson 
heading a White cast. Several times 
Equity was called on f or_^ cash to 
pay oft the company. Around $12,000 
was on deposit there: early this week 
When, the players were paid two 
"Weeks' salary^ Stated that $30,000 
was hahdled by Equity at one time 
or another in connection with 'Fun' 
when the shpw reached NeW Yprk 
fresh money was needed and if was 
reported that $27,000 was provided 
by . Edward J. Barber, of the^arbet 
West ^frician Line, a shipping outfit 
The money was, secured from him at 
the suggestion bf Mrs. Barber, who 
ihade Sillmah a sort of protege and 
W^ j>resent in Bpstpn during the 
hectic tryput there. Additional, 
ihbney Is said to hive been, put into, 
the show frbni .the same spurce. 
through ah : attbirhey during . that 
period.' 

'HI-Tai' Alsp Off : 

; Another musical, .'HirYa Gentle- 
hien', \yhich ialso cost a young fdrr 
time and which' was . cpritenifebrary, 
'Fun! ih Bbstpri, .Was . brought 
tb . N.e W ■ . York , after, the iry out/ 
supposed tp/ be jrewrritten and 
later be.' presented; on Broad-; 
prPbably withPiif ;Max Baier.. 
Similarly .• the : . oriigihal / . managerial; 
■etufi .^as upset.„ 'Gentlemen' was 
presented by : Ale^t, ,A.. Aarons ; and 
Robert Ritchie; .but the former. deV 
clared pUt- before the shoW stopped; 
Ritchie, whp.finainced the prbduction. 
Is; uriderstood to he ar rahgihg , for its 
return tpv the boards.' :.;■ .. ) ■:■■ 

Ads. appeared In • Tuesday's. (31) 
dallies . as- a -'nPtice to tibfcets holders 
for 'All in FUn.' Ihsertibns were "to 
the point that pei"sons with tickets 
for the New Yeair's Eye perforiTiahce 
of 'Pun', . eould exchange them , f pr 
other shows.. The. aids were ;ap-; 
parentiy inserted ;by the Shuberts, 
•who operate the;' Majestic,: 



Current Road Shows 



Daniel Frohinah's .pne4hird iriterpst in the Lyceurrt,. N. 'Y.,,was his prii-i^ 
cipal source of income after he ceased: active produeing, .but. in recent 
years the theatre earned scant profits .and ownership passed: to. the. bkhk 
hpldinjg the .first' mortgage. ; When foreclostire pended, publicity wa? given 
the fact, that .Frohm,an -^yQuld lose his abode atop the Lycelim; the bank 

life. He discbntinued its .use as 



.1 




with 
back 
It is 

may:, 
way, 



jWeck'jm. 1-8) .V. ■■'■'•^;V 
•'A: .Night; .of : Loyef^Rpyal Alexanr' 
ilra; Toronto. (I'f4 , :.! ■ ■ 

' .'Arseiiic and 'Qlil. Lace.'. (Boris Ksir- 
lofr)T--B4aiyland, %ltimo;i'e.. (1-8). • ; ; ; 

Etallet Riisse ae ilrlonite 'Carlo-r-Au- 
ditprium,. .Chicago ;ol-,5)| Orpheunrii 
Davenport: (70;; :';' 
• 'jBatile 'of, : A.nffels' (Miriarn- Hop--: 
kins)— Wilbur;' Bostdh . (1-8); < : 

•Crasy >(Vlth the Heat' (Willie How- 
ard. Luella iCjeaiO-T-Shubert, BoMon 

j..(i-8>,.. •:;:,,.: ^; ;•:,.:;■-. ;■■■:■:;:; 

1 'buBirry WasA:Lady' (-Bert Laihf) 
i^Erlahgerv <;hiica:gp (l-ai). ; : 
•V^klrst ' '.isloiL.t'o.. .■Heaiyen'-; .(Alison 
:Skip'worth)^T-.Erliinger^ Philadeljphia 
(1^). ; ■' ■■;.,• ;:,;:'•■ :. ,-. ■ -"■•^ V '■■[■ 
'Hard Way' — : Plymbuth, Boston 
(1-4). 

Hellzapopplh'-^ass,' D^trPi.t (1-4); 
Paramount, Toledo' (6); Hanna, 
Cleveland .(7-8).. ; . 

•Here Todays (Ruth Gbrdon)— 4Sel- 
wyh, Chicago . ( J -8).'. . • 

Kiss the Boys Gpbdbye^-^Brbad-^ 
way, N-.' Bergen, N.- . J.. (i'rS). . " V- 
Ladles .in Retlreihetit' - (F-lpra Rbbr 
son) — American,; St, Louis (l-^i); 
Davidsbh, -Milwaukee (6-;8). 

'Lady- In flie Park' (Gertrud e Lavir- 
rehce)-rTGolohiali Boston ;(.l-8). . 

'Lady In Waiting' (Gladys George > 
—Erlanger,; Buffalo (1); .Masbriip au- 
ditbrium; Rochester (2)~; Erie, Sche- 
nectady (3).- ' 

Life With Fithir' (Lillian - Gish);—. 
Blackslone, .Chicago: < 1-8). ■ : 

Lite Wl*l»':Father' . (Dorothy Gish) 
—Repeirtory, Boston (1-8 )^ v 
--fLittle Foxes' (TallUlah Bankhead) 
— CUrran, ^Ari Fiianciscp (1-4): New 
Auditorium- Oakland. Gal;'(6); Pacific 
auditorium, Stockton, Cal. (7); High 
school auditorium, -Sacramento - (8 ). 

Male Ahinial' ■ (Elliptt. Niigent)- 
Cox. Cincinnati (1); English, Indian 
apolis (2-4); Hartmah, Columbus 

(6-8). ■•; ■ ■ ■ 

Man Who Came to Dinner^ (Clif 
ton - Webb)— Nixon, Pittsburgh (1-4); 
Roi^al Alexandra, Tpronto (6,-8). . 

Mr. and Mrs. Nf orth' — Playhouse. 
Wilmington, Del. (3-4);. National 
Washington (6-8>. " / ' ' , 

'Philadelphia Story' ... (Katharinje:' 
Hepburn) -r- Shrine;. (Dklahoma ; Clity 
(1): Majestic. Ft. Worth (2); Melba,^ 
Dallas (3-4);. Baylpr. university, 
Waco, Texas (!5); Paramoiirit, Austin 
(7 ): Texas, San Antoiiio ( 8 .) . 
, 'Pliis and Needles'--^ Sludebaker, 
Chicagb (1-8); 

: 'PyBmalliDin' (Ruth Chatterton)-Tr 
Harris, Chicago (1-8). 

.'She Had' to Say Yes* (Dennis King) 
—Forrest, Philadelphia (1-8); .. 

'iShowiOfl' (Joe E:; .Brown)— El 
Capitan, Los Angeles (1-4^.. 
' ;/Slm Sala Bim' (Dante) — Locust. 
Phnadelphia,(l-4) ; Nixbh, Pittsburgh 
((J-8). ; 

'Talley Method' (Iha :Claire. John 
Halliday)— Ford's, Baltimore (6-8); 

TheriB Shall Be No Nlcrlit' (Alfred 
Lunt, Lynn jFontanne)— Grand, Chi- 
cago (1-8). 

'Time of Tour. Life' (Eddie Dow- 
lihg)-T^Hanna, (Cleveland fl-4); Cass, 
Detroit (6-8). 

•Tobacco Road' (John Barton)— 
Hartman, Columbus (1-4); Cox, Cin- 
:cihnati.(5-8^. .'V::; :. 
.._ •'Yokel .Boy' (Joe f'ehner)— Nation- 
al 'Washingtbn (1t4); Locust, Phjla-; 
deiphia ■■(6-8:); '\'-- ' . ■ - ■ 



. .1 

young Daniel, a job as office, boy: in j 
the bu.<!jrtcss dopartnVent. of the N: Y. \ 
Triburie, where he sold paperi p.^^ j 
the cpunter and w'^o*'* wrappers; : He i 
.wa.S; al.w ah errand boy for thsseditbr, j 

Horace Greeley, who ■ was the: most j -. , . . . ■ ^ • • . 

iSe^ er i, "the -world; bVltl t^^^^^ h.m; tenancy, for . 

TsJj^ii^v lAarniA tS i-Virt hi< *<*ribt and ' '^"'"'''•Virs about a year ago because of dimming vision and ntoved to -the 

S^ld^?^,w ^s ti SS>ah^^ 

iS^i^^ ih^^^^Zi^^^^^^ preceded the illness resulting in his' death.. . ; >- : .V 

other m|T^ on the^,^^T^ . . ^^ Lyceum was .built by^ Ghaiiles. Frphmari, William Harris. Sr., and 

' '' l)ianie.l>Frohrnah. ; Total value- of the ^^p^ 

$640,000. Buildihg cost :$229ib(M), the; balsinde being the price Of the;; land. 
Last' spring it was . acquired , by .Sani H. Harris and , a group including 
Gcprsc;-!5;.:Kaii.fman., -Mosis Hart and M8^rcus Jleinrian. The purchase price 
was" $240,000,.: considered ..k really ijiood buy. : New ownership fiirtherras-; 
siired :Frbhmah the; use. bf. the up|stairs tetreat; re.ached by a tiny; elevator . 
that ■sphietimes'didn't''wprl^ ■^: ''^ ->'.■■"'..- y:\\.'-._'r- •. •:.;"/': ■: - ■: 
.; Ly ceuni . was . under the cbTtehtal :bt David Bieiasco and Charles Frbhmari 
: when \thbse managers , we^ at:<the .height of . their 'careers; aind the house- 
jtehanled a succession of lorig run. successes. Including 'The Gold Diggers,'; 
fLddies of ''the Evening' and 'The ; Lion and the MoUse'., Latter \yas pro- 
duced by Henry B. 'Harris and. was that nwnager's out-rfandinig success. . 



iPrniof 

Greeley's handwriting, 
;:; Greeley's SWUbh. on 'llaqilet'^i 
'MTv Greeley al.sbvwrp.te. occasional 
articles' foii" outside; papers. He once, 
wrote ah article iii which he .quoted 
.f rom : 'Hahiiet'^ ' 'Tis . true; 'tis' pity 
and ..pity 'tis 'tis triic'— which: came 
put in print as, fPllows: ' "Tis. twp,;;'tis; 

««« - 'tic 'tic 'two:' ' 



•:■ ■ ■ ■; " .^-Fantiastle^Sotherh. and Marlowe' 

;Some fantastic figures were cbrinected with .the ajjpearances. P^ H. 
Sothern~ aiid Julia Marlowe, the Liints of their day. Sothorn was dbvelopcd 
to stardom by. Dan Frohnian and was under his control. Miss Marlowe 
was; under contract to Charles B, Dillingham; Charles Frphman proposed 
and did present'theni as .corstars,..after making rpyalty arrahgemchts with 
Kis brbther and DiUinghaih.; Latter was paid. $3,75 weekly^ for Miiss Marr\ 
ibwe's contract and Dan: Frphman go Spthem. \ 

: Sbthern. and Marlowe specialized . in Shakespeare. Under (jharles 
FrPhmah they received $2,500 each weekly, very irhportant; nr»P.hey?in those 
daysi so that the showrpan- was on the nut for;$5;625..withoiit counting 
salaries to the supporting cast, production and traveling expense. ; First 
year the- tour ~ netted $l,00b and the second year, the dub's appearances-, 
ended $55,000 in the. red on the manager's side/Th'at fthished Charles Froh- . 
" man's interest in then). The' Shuberts thereupon/ took pver- Ih'e glamorous -; 
■pair and cleaned :Up:V' 



' ' ■ ^ rr.bhnian's. B'eiprt to, Insult 

Several years : ago iin incident occurred at; the then' sripply Lido Club 
. at-Lbng Beach, N- Yv Frohmah Was invited there by a woman; member,;:who 
becameVhighly: fRdignant when the management advised, hier that guests- 
of his racial background were hot allowed and would she please not bring, 
him again. Frohrhan was not particularly disturbed, but he remarked:.. 
'Everi Christ could not get in here. He wasi a j;ew.' The Lido is. now' under 
Jewish management. Frohmah's . perspnal liberalism, of cburse, is attested, 
by his mertiberships in the Catholici Episcopalian and JewLsh. Theatrical 
Guilds,, and the funeral services in the Little; Church Around the Corner 
. (Church of Transfiguration),' with Dr. Randolph Ray brficiating; although ■ 
interment was in Union Fieidi an brthodbx Jewish cemetery. 



1 



fifty, ..His fifty-twb,; 'tis two.' 

He ajso wrote an article .for. ahr :, 
othet -paper and headed ; tlie article 
With, • ;quotati6iv ; f rbm ' 'Filstaff';: 
Tlvree. men ln-buckrjitfl.' which had 
reference to three famous 'ooliticiaii>.: 
but it .came out in print "Three men 
in a back i-obmi' So Daniel was also 
employed to copy his frequent manu- 
scripts; f bi- /Which he . rece ived $2^ 50 a ■■, 
week . extra.: He felt very : proud' to. 
have a total income ftbm his services.- 
of $6.50:.,a; week.' ' 
-■..;:.:A-..Pa]blished'a N^ Y: '?>a''y 

Five years liater, . ■ Johjv . Russeli 
.Y'bufig;: whp had, been. the -managinjg 
editor- of .the n; 'Y. Tribuhei 'stairtGda 
daily- paper called "The Ne\y . York 
StAhdardv;: -He, e.mplbyed Daniel as. 
cashiet ahd afterwards publisher 
of. that .paper. The paper livecl two 
years and a half. :: "Then Daniel got a 
job as advahce agent.. of. Callcnder's 
famPiis (Seorgia Minstrels. firie 
.company bf that time. 'When his 
time'was up, he .wanted to leave the 
company and. go back to the business 
department of' the newspapei: again. 
Biit "the manager of the cbmp'any, 
finding that. Daniel could .spell the 
English language correctly, as' it was 
the firit. time; he had had an advance 
agent \vhp cpiild spell, increased, his 
salary to induce him to stay the rest 

of the season. Daniel stayed. —— — - 

Afterwards .the company was pur-. : Frohman's Exercising 

chased by. J. H. Haverly, then the Frohman, sparsely built, never neglected exercise, but hardiy indulged ih 
most prominent theatrical :mana}{er sports. He frequently, went on weekend bicycle tours. His agiUty was 
in America. He had numerous, the- indicated by the fact that up to 10 years or so ago he danced fori hours, his 
atres and niany companies. A'ter- .pjiitners invariably being prominent women of the stage, • In recent years; 
wards he became manager ot-the^ .j^^- ^ j - motbrcar trips, often accompanied by a .nephew^.- Henry 
Madison. '.^Square theatre,. 
Hazel Kirke was produced and ran ^ 
467 days, the longest run of any play 1 
known, -Then- he became the man- 
ager of Hayerly's Fifth Ave. theatre, 
where the famous .stars, of America 
played their New York engagements. 
AYhile here he established the famous 
Lyceum "Theaitre Stock Co. pn Foiu th 
avenue and 23d street. .Here /he pro- 
duced many successful plays and de- 
veloped the late ' E. H,; Sothern into 
a ,star. Sothern had one ..company 
and the other cpmpanies alternated 
their engagements at the Lyceum 
theatre before going on the road. . 

Then the theatre was torn down to 
make .Way for' the MetrbpoUtan Life 
Insurance Cpmpany, and; Atigustin 
t)aly, a .great theiatripal manager, 
having died, Daniel took over Daly's 
Brpadway theatre. He presented a 
stock company and other corhpanles. 
here fpr two years, during which 
time he built the new Lyceum the- 
atre, at .W. 45th street, near Broad- 
way, where he remained as producer 
until- his death: During , the latter 
.months of hiS;l>fe, howevei-vhe;.rent7 
ed the theatre to another , company^ 
keeping his .ofTiice studio in the upper 
part of the: building. 



Gustav'a Bicycle Jumps 

. (Cycling rah in the family. There was a third brother, Gustav, whp was 
made company manager bf Charles Frohman attractions to keep him from 
barging but on. his own.. Not infrequently Gus .wolild instruct the property, 
man to count up on Saturday night and then pedal to the next stand. 



The Motto: Struck 

Wails bf the Lyceum have little scroll-like decorations and for. 'a long 
time they held the names of noted authors and poets. Over the pirbsce- 
hfum. was . a Latin inscriptipn which Frohman Would not permit to be 
painted oiit. It read, 'Operartus Npscimur,' which means: 

'By- pur wprks we are known/; 



Engageiiieiits 



'Mr. 



Lewis Martin, Wylie Adams, 
and ■Mrs.'.' Nprthi': ' - ".v.-:. 

Martin . Wblfsbh,' Alfred, Ryder. 
Robert Simon,; Norma 'Green, Curt 
Conway, 'No' [For .An Answer,' 

Edward: Jurist, James Bayes. Stan- 
>ley Ackernriah; Robert. If. Adams, 
'First Stop to Heaivea,'. 



: ■ .\ , ;T(wcc^.;.0/. jffii.- 1^8) :-'r 

Marian .:Anderi5dh^Re'cital; 'Gsirne'- 
giehall, N; Y, (3). . •:; •..■,;, 

' JascHar:;Helfet2— Soloist with Phil'-i 
harmbnic-Symphony, Carnegie Hall, 
:N;'Y.;-(2-3).-'- ';. ..o'', ■.;•,-.'■.■., 

Jose Iturbl^Soipist wilh 'St, -Lotiis 
Symphony. Municipial .auditorium, St 
.Louis; (3-4), . •: . ' '; '■; : 

:-.Marjbrie . .Lawrence .— Recital, 
Pierre hbtel, .N. .Y/ (8),; 
. Dorothy iyiayhpr— Recital. Bus^ 
auditorium,- Hartfprdi Cpnn. .(5); Re- 
cital, Town, Hall. N.Y. /(B): 



, First to Present Wilde- Plays in U. Si . 

He was .the first manager to introduce the plays of. Oscar Wilde over, 
here, presenting 'An Ideal Husband* and 'A Woman of No Importance'. 



Frohman Ki6s 



^ontlniled ironi. page 41: 



head Pf the organization of late 
along; with Sarh Scribher. .Gladys 
Swa'rthput planed in from New Or- 
leans to sing the Lord's. Prayer at 
the Little Church, and Channing; 
Pollock delivered the eulogy at the 
services. Gene Buck spoke for the 
(::a.thpli.c Actors Fund,, while Waltef 
Vincent spoke for ' the Actbrs;Fund. 
jPirured iq Early Filth: ProducUbli 
th the early , day of silent .pictures 
^.Frbhman was a Vfigute with Fanibiis 
j-Piayers; tje was ah:. 'associate - of 

- Adblph Zukor when such pictures 

- as ,'Queeh Elizabeth', .with Sarah 
Berhhard]t,^ The- Good, iit tie Devil', 
with -Mary .Pickfoi'dV and *The. Prli- 
oher Pt Zenda',: . :wi.th.,. James : K, 



bid Lycieuifn 'under/ FrPhmahv includ- 

SdfSJfelP'SaS^^HS^^ 
Kelceyj Heririett?( Orp.<?sman, . Henry 
Miller, Mary Mannering, Isabe:f Iry- . 



ing: ;ahd, Mary Anderson,: who ;w.as 
regarded as the most beautiful wbiiri^/ 
an' oh the stage. Authors whose. play.s 
were presented ^. 'included. Belascp, 
Henry Arthur Jpnes. Piiiei-o and Sar-' 
vdou. He wed Margaret IlHngtPn, then. 
I a . star, ■ in. 1903, but' although;-!': was 



Yehudi RIenuhin-ftbcital,,;Pt». Arts .:"consid<?red^ not^an ideaj | ^ - -.jie^^anj- the following ej 

Wbhouse,-. Havana (2).- .' . : . , .,; marriage, $he rptirpd fora time and j .^jf-g^g ^j ^^e Actors Fundy 
AihVri SMifiine — T.ppture-repital. they wcre divPrced after -SIX years, i. vi.,v^»r,^. . ic^j; eA,;!w„«r 



eLubhouse 

Albert: S'paldiiiK — LectMre-recital, 
GaVrtegie Haill,;N,'Y. (4)v, ' 
' Joseph - S*igeti^Soloiifit' with •Phila-. 
deiphia orchestra;; Academy pf Mus;iG. 
Philadelphia - (3-4-6); same at- Carne- 

gi« Haii: N. y;./-?). . - ■ 

1:'- Efrem Ziihbalist-^Recital; Came- 

■ £ie- liail, N^y, (6.). ' V;- ^ ,;.-. ' 



; >.;;ilelen;Brooks went Into .the cast of 
j 'Arsenic and Old Lace' in ' Baltimore 
,|-thiS .■/week; .. ■■'•.'' ",' ' "'■■ '■.■ 



were /divorced after - six years 
Mi*^.*4iij'''^i'^°" Iheiv :h>arried 'Major 
Ed'warff' Bpwies. She died . i n 1.934. 

; : Menioriikl^ Broadcasl ;: 

. 'A rneitiof-ial bi:oadcaj.t;wdiV. radioed. 
Sunday. ,(29) py^.r WOR, iho;se par- 
ticipating ihcludirig 'George/ M. . Co- 
han, Fannie Hui\sl, . who was clo.scst 
to him in recent years. Walter Hamp- 
den, Fred Waring, , Monty Wbolley 
and Walter V inceiii.. ,v.p. of- the Ac- 
tors Fund who "has, been, the active 



• pictures developed .sound, he was' 
virtually : in .retircitient theatrically. 
He \yrote two .books: . TVIempriesr of a 
Maniiger' aiVd .'ipaniel Frbhfnan Prcr 
sents'.. tatter, wprki published: In 
, 1935, is. sprinkled 'with -his/wittijeiSms.. 

Ahn.otobed -list of pallbearers, rep- 
resentative of persbns from the.stage 
and '-public iife, was:..- , . ' '„ •. ;. . 
Lee;.- Sbubert,' Gilbert Miller,, .Marr 

executive 
Walter 

, Vincent,- 1 ■ Sam Scribher; Robert 
Gampbeil and / Charles Dow dark; 
•George . Cohan',. Arthur : Hopkins, 
Monty 'Wpblley, .Dr. Nicholas Mur- 
tiy; Butler, William .Gaxtph,; Victor 
Moore,' Mayor Fibreilo H. La(3uardia,, 
Stanley ' Howe, Harry - Sbmmers, 
Burns . Mantle,. George C, Tyier, 
Frank Gillmbr^, 'Willlarh A. Brady, 
Gene Bitck, Bill Robinson, Otis iSkih- 
fier, former Mayor; James; J.; Walker, 
: Brooks ' Aticirisoh arid Fred Stone. 





Ameirlca'i DiHtln'cllTa • tintertinliifr - 

- -ON Totm • v - ' 

;/ ■ '. . -■'.■ ■ 
'•H E L L 2 - A P PjO P I N, A B> 

. lyijjt.t WM, KENT 
1778 B'vyay.;. New *¥orl< 



WeJnescl^y^ January I, 1911 



LEGITIMATE 49 



Chi Legit B^; Lunts SRO $12, 





HEPBURN BK $12300 
J JNJiC 



■ ■ . v Chicago;: pic... 31,- •': 
.•' New high in ;tfieatres /in.y.^S^^^^ 
years is in :eyidenc(e.ar6und town cur- 
" r'ently, with six theatres 

That Is about all thait can be jaccom-.. 
niodated properly in tkese days; . 
: : :New Vear's ' EVe (tonight) is a 
' firiaSh money : ^ejssron. for fevery 
" ' housei / AU of them are sold but for, 
, both peiibrmainces and some shows 
are lia vihg their tickets scalped for 
a? high asi-^SIS a pair, his is . espe- 
cially trije .cii tHe musical, 'fjiiBarry 
/ Was a .liidy;V . This on^^ came, in to 
\ iuprisirigly poor word-of-mouth, but 
?' '.its:'-- ifew ,. York reputation -gave /it. 
... enough .Im'jb'e^s to, se^ away to 
\ powerful trade.' Beirt Lahr ,,is .rgtcd 
. as vlcari-ying : ..the '.. show " on ms 
ihoulders, 

.; Wheh ' ^There^ Shaii ;Be No-Night^ 
finishes iri the Grand 6ri Jan. 18, the 
house will be taken over the follow- 
ing day by Dennis King in a hew 
.musical tagged 'She Had:to Say Yes.* 
'Pygmalion;' the wahderery. is now in 
Jts third; .spptj ■ the Harris, whiere it- 
. bpehieid .ort .Christmas. p?iy afte.c a 
three-day. layoff. Ruth Gordon is 
. .. holding 'Here .Today!, together iri the 
Selwyn following the fijciish of the 
American "Theatre' Society subscrip- 
tidh money, but. there is a possibilily 
thajt' the show will call it quits on 
Saturday (4)i or Jan. 11. .. . 
' Estimates tor Last Week 
'DuBarry Was a Lady,' Erlahfer 
(1st week). (1;300; $3:30). Had a 
bright first, week/arid went to $2D.0b0. 
. .With some $11,000 assured for New' 
Year's Eve, • this one will fide into 
the heavy coin this, week.- .• •. . 
. 'Here Todiy,' Selwyn . (3rd week) 
(1,000; $275), Perked with Christmas 
, Day and finished to $8,000,. 

'Life WitlTFaiher,' BlackstOne (43rd 
week). (l,i200; $2.75). Despite pre- 
Xma.s days, came through with' fine 
$15,000. . 

.;'KliTS and NeedleV Studebakef 
(2d week) -tl.SOO; $1>. Did an exr 
dellent sales job despite the pre-, 
holiday and took $7,000. 

. . 'Pyg matloii,' Harri s . . ( 51h l oop 
.week ) ( 1,"D00:'"|5:75I. rMoved Tiere 
from thfe Erjanger and. opened on 
Christmas Day . after .three-day . dark- 

: ening. Otrshort weefc-pame up v/ith 
$6,000. • 

There Shall Be No Night,' Grtind 
(1st week) (1,^00; $3.30). Opiened oil 
Dec. 26 as the fourth .shpw of the 
American Theatre Society -Theatre 

- Guild season. . Ciot .capacity-Ior the 
four shows at $12,000, 

BROWN'S OFF 
GETS 17,500 IN H'WOOD 

Hollywood, Dec. 31; . 
Henry Duffy brought Joe E. Bjrowh 
to Hollywood in a revival of 'The 
Show Off' in an attempit tp cash in on 
the holiday trade.; Actor played the 
comedy- in the east and Irrimediately 
following the Ideal date again heads 
east Uncjer Duffy's auspices. 
. First •' week, with the Christmas 

- holiday included,. brought satisfactory 
estimated $7,500. with outlook, for 
New Year's week: considerably 

/ .brighter, ', ' . : ^ ^ 

•Nigbl of love' Very 
Poor $4,500 Id Montreal 

: Montreal, Dec. 31- ; 
; 'Nlpht of Love,' at His. Mniosty's 
at $3 top. featuring John Lodge., 
Helen Gleaisoh and • Marparet Na- 
. mara, played here all" Christinas 
.... week. t(f medrbCre biz. . ; - ■. 
. -Weather; , flu epidemic 'and. Xma."!: 
' ".Bhoppine CiJt gross to .Very poor estf- 
.. ; niated .$4,5()0; ■ . V i' 

T^iie^ 7^G In Cincy 

/^incinhati. bec; 3i,.'." 
: .Flora :Rbb.«:on in. 'Ladies In Retiirer 
. ~ ,.ment' pulled . strapg 'far approxir 
. niately. $7;500 in five perf ofmarices 
^ the. last half of last weelt jn . the 
, i,400-seat. Cox at $2:75 top. Only lull 
was Christmas night, :Show \va.s the 
: ; fourth here In the Theatre Giiild 
. subscription series, f . • ■:• 
First half of thi.?. week .the Cox has 
.'Male Animal.' with the scale upped 
.frbni $2.75. tP. $3:86. for ';1he ' Nojsi: 
■Year!s Eve - berf orrnance.- ^ It i."; the 
final ,"?how of the sea.«;on iti the Thca- 
■-rHre -^-G-ttH^ r -^ oriofh ' ■' St MiUn.frujab.ri..5 
. 'Tobacco Road' ;-cGme.< in for a week 
.^t $1.C5 top for it,s eighth yisil here: 

Lewis ILirmon joihed thc.Saifi H. 
Harri.s piibl icity ' .staff as ''associate to 
John Peter Toohey ..and Ben- Kbrn- 
■ zweig. . " ' ■ ■■ 



Baltimore>: Dec^ 31 ; 
First iegit-,.fare„he.re: Ih six. Weefe; 
had both local : hpuseg open - last 
\veek, with ..'Yokel Bpy,' in for. three 
days at Fprd^s, and 'Arsenic ahd. Old 
L^celv. cpmpleting . thre.e • days of. /a 

nine-day stay, tit the. "indie . booked 
Maryiahd. ■ .Gut ' yersldn of : the'. la.te 
Brpadwaiy . musie'al,: with Jof:3»iehrier 
and ..Cass Daley . ' the Ifeads, at- 
tracted a. . fairish px-ess . iand built 
mPdestly; Might have ^gptten more 
moriey \yith. top reduced to $2;. 

.'Arsenic,' . pFe-Broadway'' produc- 
tion : effort of Howard, iiindisay and 
Russe! ■C.rouse, . drew .a- '.'complete 
.rouncl ofVgraise from thie lbcal.-crix 
&nd' promises lo 'BililS "Biz "witKTitP' 
ditional New Year's week at . hand. 
Some draft also being attributed to 
presence of . Boris Karloff in the 
play. '■' : ■ .. .-' ■ 

: . Estimatei for Last Week 

• *Arsenic arid Old Lace,' Maryland 
(l;550; $2.22).-. New pliay by- Joseph 
Kesserling, presented by Howard. 
Lindsay and , Russel Crouse, with 
Boris Kai-lpff featured; drew gbod 
critical: reaction, gradually building 
to $4,900 for . three days. Will re 
maiin another week. 

'Yokel Boy,' Fotd's. : (1,900; $2.78). 
Trimmed down fps troupin^, with 
Joe Periner^ ahd Cass Daley in leiad.«r',. 
musical drew fairish response at 
$6,200. for. lour shows, in three days. 
Solid in lower-priced; seats. 



DINNER' FINE $18,000 
IN 1ST Plit WEEK 



Plttsbuigh, Pec/31. . 
'Man Who Came to Dinner' started 
slowly at Nixon . last : week,, which 
was to have been expected for the 
two days prece ding Xmas,- but fin- 
ished like a house atlre and went on ^^.^ ,„„..^^^ , 

to fine estiinaTga'TIg;000''aT$2r75-t'qir. I hai^s lh ':" tTga 
Regular midweek matinee was 
switched frpm Wednesday. (Xmas 
Day) to Thursdayr-which helped. ' 

.show's in for two weeks and ad- 
vance sale indicates current stanza 
will be even better than first, parr 
ticularly with a higher top, $3^30 for 
New Year's Eve and that perform- 
ance .practically sold out already. 
Nixon, which" has" had' rough sled.- 
ding . all season is' finally . getting a 
b'reali with bookings and Ippks set 
fpr sPme time now. Dante conies 
in Monday (6V. fplipwed by Dennis 
King In 'She Had to ^ay Yes';. prob- 
ably 'Male' Animal' Jan. 20. and then 
'Tobacco Road' Feb, 3 for a fort- 
night.:' • 



.Kansas. City, Dec. 31.. . 

After considerable , layoff, the 
Miisic Hall went after legit trade 
.agajTi last weekend with a-. Friday 
and Saturday. (28) date: of 'The Phila-. 
deiph ia .. Story,.' ' -Katherfne Hepburii 
starrer-played two.-everijng perfbfm.i' 
aiices. and a Saturday nfiatinee for a 
total. grpss/estimated at $12,500; the; 
best thus far. .and possibly the best 
the season will see. Matinee was a 
sellout three ■ days in .advance ' arid 
evening performances were virtual 
capacities. ' . '::•••'■ 

Ruth Chattertbn in 'Pj^gmaiion': b 
next on . the books with a Jjin.' 28 
bpehirig^v ■ •' ■.' ••' . ■ 




JEtostbn. D(&c. 31. 



Plenty 01 .shows . aind'- a g;bod' as- 
sortmen.t, ijn town this Week with the 
dual preems last night (30) of 'I>ady 
in. the Park,' With . Gertrude Law- 
rence, and, 'Battle - of Angels'; with 
Miriapi Hopkins..- 

Hub had three hew, ' shows ;last 
.week, .'Crazy 'With the Heat,' 'Flight 
.to . the WeslV and . .'The Hard. Way.'; 
Norie .did big business. 'The Hard: 
Way' appears- to be hopeless; .. . -,. 
: EstimaUs; tor Last Week . 
■ 'Life with Father,' Repertory (13tH 
wk.) (966;. $2;75)^Now that, this 
iTinri fnmpflny ha«j - pa ssed . the 100- 
perfornrtance mark it, may be . rcr, 
garded as a local institiitiori. De- . 
spite Christmas slump got close to 
big $15,000. 

-'Crazy With the Heat,' Shubert (5 
performa.hces) (1,590; $3.30)— Revite. 
opened in ; bad shape, but- it's being 
fixed=artd trade is perking up." Re- 
ceived a .pale press weltiome; . First 
five shows garnei"ed $10,500. 

•Flight to the West,' Wilbur Cone 
week.) (1.227; $2.75)— Opinion di- 
vided oh this .hew. Elmer Rice anti- 
Nazi piiay,. but. .practically all agree 
that . it's. : much better .; ,thain Rice's 
'American Landscape' and below 
the par set by Sherwood's 'There 
Shall be No Night.' Single, week- 
about, $8,000. : 

•The Hatd Way,' Plymouth (4 pei-- 
formanccs) a;480; $2.75)-^ReceiVed 
frei il from l ocal— critics- 
whP found little , in Allen Bo'retz' 
farce to recommend it. Tallied only 
-about $l,500._-^..„_^^.. 



'.^E^t.lmatcs.'for Last . -Week 
. Key; G : (Comcdii:)v D. (Drflnwi) -' R 
. {Revue)., M (Musical), F '(Farce), 
O .^Operetta).. . : ; - '■'.-,■[ 

.' 'Ail in Fun,' Majestic. Opened last 
Friday (27); mostly ;adverse notices; 
business Saturday any thing, but: en- 
couraigini: and revue abruptly itQP- 
■ped; two. .'days'i,. ■ .'. ; .•. 

■ 'Boys arid Girls Together,' Brdaiir 
hurst . M3th.; week) - (R-1,160; ' $4.40):; 
Picked up as expected, with takings 
approximating $21,000; fairly ^profit- 
able, for musical. ■ , ' 

•ckbiriV li the Sky,' Wtartih < Beck 
(loth -week) (M'1,214; :$3.3i0). Some- 
what better , tbo.; - cpldred cast ; mu- 
sicfll Should .go to ..new high : thi.s ; 
Week,' ha virig : started with capacity 
business; .$i7;000. ; . r ' . 

«rii«< fftr Pa«si oiii;' /.Rpvi aie ; / ;w ias 
abruptly taken off: last Satiifday ifte"? 
playing week and one half. " 

'Flight to the West,' Guild (D-956; 
$3.30 ), ' . presented by : the . Play- 
■ Wrights; .. - wi-itteii by Elmei: .. Rice; 
oriiginaliy khbwn as 'Trans-Atlantic'; 
fair reports, from - but; of towp; 
opened Monday . (30); hailed 'by ; 
press; V ■ ' ^'.-l .^. ■ 

♦George Washingtioh Slept; Here,'. 

Lyceum (1.0th..week) .(C-l,dO4; $3.30). 
Among the better draws on. the Su.h- 
day list; has been doing moderately 
well; picked up last vireek; .$11,000. - 
:'Hell tkpuiniin.V ..Winte r . Gai ' dei > 



I'ime of life' Fme 



StrLouis, Dec. 31. 
.. 'Time Of Vonr Life,' with Eddie 
Po.wling and Julie .Haydori in the 
top roles, finished a one week stand 
at the .American Saturday (28), at 
$2.80 top. to. estimated .fine. $12,000. 
No : .performance : was given Xmas 
eve. iahd the Wednesday. matinee was 
moved over to Thursday. Crix cdnl- 
tributed raves;'. ' .' 
Flora Rob.son in Tiadies In Retire-: 
Toronto, Pec. 28. ; mcnt' opened One-week engagement 
' In for latter half of. last week at I la.>;t night .(.Monday) With the house 
Royal . Alexandra; 'Male . Animal' i scaled to;$2:80. Price was tilted to 
chalked up fair estimated $6,200. . \ ; $3.36 for New' Year's Eye and the 
Maiinly all upstairs, biz for the i house was._sold out seyerhl weeks in 
1,461-Seater, holiday season hurting. ] advance for this particular night. 



' Animar 6G in Toronto 




■J- 



, As miich as l6o'> to the fhow. over -a fixed level applie.s to the engage- 
ment of- -Life with Father.' ■Empir<'.;N, -Y. Thpugh.the show .ha.s becfj run- 
hiiig more than a year, terms : of the unpriDGedented 'cphtract were hot 
khdwh ambrig •.managers, viritji - lately.- ;S)ib\v...g'ot.i> ihc entire- artiount . dyer 
•■$17,000- weekly and-tlve •gross.-^did hot ciro'p-.under' that mark 'except during 
sumniery ■.■-;.;;■■;■..■; ' .-,;'■ ■■■ ■■; ;' »■"'■ ■■ ■'■■■■■;:■'.: 

■ - Explained that the arrange'nient was.niade. in retiirn fpr the.shpw guaran-i 
teeing- the house against. IdsS. .:'Anibi'int..?io:fi.«.sured' i.s said to., be le.-fs. than 
$3,000 weekly, ..Oscar. Serlih,: Who' pro^ 

• house if Lestef Meyer;, who- operates • the Empirei^ .would.. set a; cieiling. for 
regular sharing teVins 'and •ihe deal: w,i.s.,m.aide,; 'Father' ,has^ averaged'. more;, 
than $18,500 except for, a. few; weeks during sumrner;. V ./ V: . V:. : •' .. '-': ; 
■'Another bPPking whore the .show receives an exceptional share ; of. the' 
takings, is. 'Twelfth NiS'hl' (Helen Haye.s and . Maurice . Evans ) a.t. the St.- 
JameS. Regulation terms apply up to an undisclbsed grbssy^with' the show 
■getfiiig -90?<i pf .all takihgs-thereafter^,: .; v; :•':: ..; v ■ ;' ; - '.: -;^ 

■Vitality-of 'Life With Father' is:f;hpwn by the receipts last /week, whe^ 
the, grbss was. $i8,700:,' ^Thaiffigue is lie.is than. $100 under; 'the takings dur- 
ing' IChrist.mas week- last year; La.iigh, Show'l';;inriL'; 60th ^yBBk;. 
'. Chicagd company. IS. in its 44th "week' -..and looks suife pf.'ipdssin^ 
niaVk. In the oijitsidc-the-Lbp'p Blackstpne. • Bbston company is iri. the l4th 
j^'eek.' 'Bdth'. a're .eariiing 'eKc^^ ■ "'^ r 

, Nprrti^n RosWh's 'Fii:st Step, tp Heayehi' which ;dpened- at . the. Erianger, 
Ph'iily,. last', night -(New YeoT-'s. Eve)., . ame - within an ey.el-a.sh ' of '• being, 
styriiieci. by a. strike of . the My.sician.* union. ' Wili lam /Goldman, who rcr 
Centiy Ic'ased the hous.e', wa.s' in. Bermuda' t<)r (he.paRt Iwp- Weeks ahd .no one; 
wpuld take- the. Vc.'piari.'ribilily ol •.signing: ai; .Gcnlract with the ;umon in his 
-%breftee-~&R-^fi^^ a .-'rbad call' 'tb .the stage 

.hands at the ErlajigiJr; ' Just i.tr;t"ne nick of Km.e./l'ate Fn(lay 'riigM, (j 
man ai'rivedr i'n tpwn.'ahd put hi's^ J pn'.a '^mion aiireement/and 

.the crisis was a-v'erted-.:. ^.-. - ■;..•'•■• ■■ ' - 

.. The -termer is a renewal of ahe termf;; (•xi.'ting .at tlje Erlangor. before 
Gbldmaii . took,.it; It iialiii; for six . men 'foi: .dramaU^^ 

niusicais. ■ " •';■:->•■: 




People bi» 'Ice' 



(IlOlh. week) ■(R:^1,671; $3.30). Will 
:probably ;again get share, of holiday 
trade; dark first half last week but 
gave extra maitihees; rated over $20.- 

.000.;..^ -■-.■-..-.:.;■;.'.;■ .■ ••.;•■■■*•..', 

•Hold on to Your Hats,' Shubeirt 
(16th week) (M-1,405; $4.40).-. Came 
back to greater degree than some 
Other musicals which Were off in 
prerholiday going; claimed, around 
$24,000. : ; ' 

'It Happens , oti Ice.' Center '. (12th 
week) : (Rr3,087: $2:75); Best -week 
to date, pop Scale doubtless . counting; 
takings, were ,$40i000, . which topped 
the' list and gross will be much 
higher this week. 

. . 'Johnny Bellhcia,' Longac^e (ISth 
week) (P-1,016; : $3.30). Can stay 
jhrou gh wiritier; dependent o n. busi-: 
ness from now on; mddest;gr0sses to 
date,-hpwever;.estimated oyer $5,000. 

•Lady Who Caine to. Stay.' Elliot 
•teP=931; $3.30). Presented—by 
Giithrie McClintic> adapted from 'R, 
E. Spehber's book by Kenneth White; 
opens'.Thursday . (2). 

'Life With Father,' Empire '(59lh 
week ) (C-l ,005; $3.30 ). . Stays up . in 
the big money; liast' week's takings 
of $18,700 virtually as good as year 
ago, ■ ' ■ . • ■ -,_ 

'Lqulsiana Purcha.se,' Inipei"ial 
(31st week)- (M-i,450; $4.40)-. Re- 
turned to fprm; with gross of $di,000 
the takings not mu<:h under capacity; 
execptional.:cqin for run muisical. 

'Man Whpi Cariie to . Dinner/ Mu- 
sic. Box (63d week) (0-1:013; $3.30). 
Moved up smartly; holdover laugh 
show credited with $14;000 because 
of. excellent attendance Friday and 
.Saturday,. •,-..■■-:.; 

, 'Meet the People,' Mansfield . (1st 
week) (R.1,000; $3.30 ). Opened 
Christmas and word went around 
that Coast reVUe is: good entertain- 
ment; won't get big coin in small 
house at scale, but production, and 
salary nut is low arid it should do. 

'My Sister. Eileen,' Biltmore (1st 
week) .(CD-991; $3.30). Drew fine- 
press and capacity clairiied second 
night after Thursday (26) debut; 
rriay be best bet of holiday card; 

'Old Acquaintance,' Morosco (1st 
jweck) .(C-939; $3.30). ; Al.sd won di.s-" 
I tinctly favorable notices and first 
•| week's business indiciates it is slayer; 
j.$13:300 quoted; very good Jri offish 
: g,oing before Chri.strna.s. ; ' 
I ■ 'Pal Joey,' ; Ba rrymore (1 St ■ weclj ) 
..(M-,l;1.04; ;$4.40). .'Got some ex- 
t;(iptional: /notice's arid some- hot so 
-! good;;.: .business aftet- Christmas 
I strong; with paid ;previe-w and .$6:(j0 
■ premiere, went to $18^000; , 
I • .'Panama "; Hattle,':. 46.th r St . (9lh 
week) (M- 1,347: $4,40); Orie.of few^: 
Shows which .played ah extra miati- 
nce; -with .that .help- gross wient over 
$35,000; has been leiadirig Broadway 
and.i5hpul,d...h'pld that;.spdt. ■ . ' 

•Retreat to Pleasure,' Bielascp. Final 
and third ■vOeek; hot much, after \vcak 
!- press .and last week's takings under 
$4:000; 'Mr. : arid Mrs: North' next 
week. --•' ■ ■•• .-y.-.- ;-,.-■; ' - 
'Separate Robins,v .t>lymbuth (40th 



operaitiph- the reason long stayer can 
keep going to slin> takings; $4,000, 
but sure to get more this week. 

.. 'REVIVALjS,-. 
j-I^elfih Night;' St.'; James (5tll 
week) \(D-1,526; . $3,30). Great busi- 
ness for. Shakespieareah play;' draw*, 
ing big peircehtage. ot students . on 
holiday vacation; up agai : over 
$22,000: '• .;.-;.- ' ; ' .-^ '., .■ 

•Charley?s Auint,' Cdrt (llth w^k) 
(C-1.064; $3:30); Came right biack last 
iveek, when .the. gross was close, fo 
$13,400; moire than: $5,000 direr pre'*/K : 
ous ,week; v/Ql atay irttd spring; . 
. ADDED \ 
•Ballet Basse.' 51st St. (Warher'i 
HpUywood); ;:Resumed last Thursday 
and final tWp- weeks ariribuncejd; un- 
usual for dance show; averaged over 
^3().006;niost df engagement. -.. 

No tfir An AiuWer,', Mecca Teriiple. 
Billed, as. opera by Marc Blitstein; 
will show Stihday. (5) and two subse- 
quent Sundays carded. " 
. : tlntb and Paul Draper., Booth; SqIq . 
c'hara'cterizatipns and ; dittd dances] 
specialists in for hbliday.s; due' on - 
Sunday (5); house gets 'The' Cream; 
in the weir Jah; .13. . ^ . Z 



PHULY NOW HAS THREE 
SHOWS; DANTE" 16,800 



. Philadelphia^ Dec. SL 
Believe U. or not, but. Philip haf 
three legit, shows, riinhing simul- 
taneously. Third of trio joins, ranks 
tonight (Tuesday.) when Erlanger,. : 
indie, relights, for first tinie since.; 
Thanksgiving week with 'First Stop 
tp Heaven,' tryout. It's , in for five 
days only at a $2- top. Forrest rer 
lighted I^st; night. (Monday) with' 
'She Hiad to Say; Yes,' Dennis^aCing . 
musical and. also, a tryout, in for two 
weeks, v ■ ■ ,-• 

. Dante; the magician, is playing hia 
second and final week at the Lo- 
cust, where he pulled estimated sat- 
isfactoi-y $6,800 last week". 



Hellz" Advance Big in Det; 
$I6,00CMtt-Fif^5 Shows 



Detroit, Dec. 31; ; ' 

Evidence of -what ,'Heilzapoppiih' 
was going to do here fpr the holidays 
caipe on the first day sales opened 
on . it two weeks in advance of the 
opening oh Christmas Day. Advance 
orders in the mail totaled; $7,000, 
with $9,000 more going out through 
the box-office wickets for a total of 
$16,000 fdr one day. It topped every- 
thing back tp the hey-day of Al Jol- 
sPh's New Year's appearances heris 
in the bygpne. . ' . 

Fpr the first weekj five perform- 
ances, one , a. . matinee,, the show' 
played to capacity for an estimated > 
$16,000 at $3.30 top. •■■ The company 
skedded two shows; for New Yiear's 
Eve^secdnd starting at 11:30 p.m. — 
with $4.40-the price for the hdliday. 

Following the 11 -day run here of 
the revue,; 'Time of Your Life' comes 
to the Cass on Jan. 6. . 



Itoaf OK $8,500 On 
Annual Indnls. Date 



week) :'(C-1.107: -$340)..' Had been 
slated to move; but tickets annbunced 
eight weeks in advance; not big coin, 
bvit prpfitablc.at $7;500. ; . ^ . 
; . 'The Corn Is Green.'' ^National 'f5th. 
week:) (D-l ,1 62; .. $3;30X New . high 
.reached by import from tbndoni 
I. takings were . :.$21. 800 .; and', better. 
,;moncy will be registered this .week; 
I tops the straight shows with po.ssible 
;/exc^iH'iw-«i^^v!t4fth Nighl,^ . .■ - 
•' 'The Flying Oer'anlos,' Pliayhouse 
j. (Cr.863: S3.30).. Opened Sundidy .(29 );; 
drew riiild. pi'CFs; line on chances will 
be' indicated durm/t week. . 
; 'To'bacro Road,' ForresC : ;('3C7th 
■week) (C-!lil07;. $.i;i0j. - Low cost, of 



Iridianapoll.s, .Pec. 31. . 

: HereC fdr Christmas week, an an- 
nual event. 'Tobacco Road- ;at . the 
1.500-seat - English, did okay .in: four '. 
night performances imd two matlr 
rices to -garner, estimated $8,500 at ■ 
$1.65 top, Natives here- loo., have - 
stopped trying to figure blit why thie ■ 
play still doeS: good business in the" . 
wbr.st- week ; in the year, for show 
biiisinessi-They just buy their titiketj- 
and-g'o. td.see-it. : •-?■ • •:..' 

- Next oh the . docket is 'Male Aril-, , 
mal,' due Thursday. (.2) for three 
nights and Saturday matinee. - 



l^y Waitiii^ Ni^^fe 



- ■ r. .Cleveland, Dec; 3i;;. J 
Grace George's .'Lady in Waiting,^ 
the Hanha's Christmas week show, 
had; its /hair singed by town's total . 
indifference' tp' anything outside, of / 
British, war relief balls, .ciycusesi 
shbppihg and- hockey. Ended seven 
perfdfmahbes af- $2.5(j -top with -ies- 
j tiinated $9,000,;; gnly fair . although 
■ ■Ddl.v treated by. critlc sl _. :' 

Sma.shing ad.varice sale on cufreht. 
i 'Time .:of. Your. Life/ . with Eddie 
ilPowliri'' and Julie' Haydori augers a 
1 ricar .^oll-rtut. pprticu'arl.v vh'th sper- 
'•'?il nrildriight Show on New Year's 
. Eve.- •■ .; y - ■: ■ 



44 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, January-^ -if, 1941 




son 




PAL JOEY 



f Lee ftoulse Havoc V,: clialkcd vp. a 
. J rteat personal score^ with . sock 
Coorije AiiiiDi'i • liniduiniVn wisl.-iii.' opportutiities, ohc. n sUtiricijl- bumps . 
conv'iy In iNVd i-jvi ai«i iL' mpiii-s i;y Jiiiiii ! i-dutiiic in thc CWi cafc staRing, and 
0'niir,i ;iiH.uiij;^Mrt.i^. ij^^wch.n-.^^^^ With ' 3 good ^rhythm, njutiiie;; 

]Ii\iTy. 1 .pviiuj; ■• ciiiiiini'lor:: (iri"lii\«l'rii.iliii>S!: 
Hans SpliUi'U ^.l.'i . Kil ls.- "In^' lioyit; oiu-.iK'.d 
•1)00. :;ri "10. « 10;ui<*l. niKTymhrPo.-N; v., 
ut roi>; ri'tfuliir .tioiitl^ ?1..4«. loii 



Jooy Kvatia. .vi , , .... . 

Mike S'l'dirs. . . .... . ; ; 

Tlte Kl.l........... ..... 

Olililya...... iV-'- 

AuriM,, . . 
• Iiljida liiiKlif-li,-. ....... . 

VhIci-Io- ; . ... . 

Albert- Iiiiuiii'.; : , , . , 
Vcrai .'^liniixv.ii. .;. . » 
Kacm... 

TaiT)\ ..... ..^ . . . i ... . . i, 

-VIcfor. . . . . . . 

Ernest. ; . ... .. . 

Stanelian J... 

Max.. .... 

Tho I'cnor. ^ ..... . . 

' Mellia SiiyJcr. . . l i ; 

Walter. ;■ ; .» 

Ludlow J-oWi'llv.: . : .-. . . 
C.o1nm(asl'inor • (.)'B.rlcn 
Aas't llotol. .Man^S.e'r 



(ipne. Kolly. 

. H»l»M-l .j: MulliK.iii 
-.Sonilvn .JtanVM 
,y.. . , ..hino .llaviK- 
.IMrfno. ,«ih)c-1alr 
'....i;...J.i'l1a;.IC|nat 
;;.;Aiiiarllla',Mv>i'i'la 
SianlVy: DdHi'U 
, .Vi.y.ioiiiii} .Si-iijil 



9pcciil pan.ccr, . SlilHey Palgo-: 



'Pal Joey' is Johri 0'Hara'§ libretto 
adaptation, from his: New Yorker; 
mag piece.s, of that iEonsurhate heel, 
Joey Evans, a doublie-dealing Chi 
nitery emcee who has a way .with 
the gals; In this unfblding he hooks 
a philahderirtg socialitej'. Mrs. Pren-. 
tiss- Simpson .(Vivienne Segal )i into 
bankrolling his .Chez Joey; until she. 
ultimiately ifiv^s him the.air wqen it 
bieconies- too involved; romantically 
tuid larcienbusly.: Which t)rfemise, as 
detailed above, is pierhaps the ma- 
jor negative aspect to what olher-- 
■ "vHse^s-an-ethei'wsei-amUsinlg^music^ 
(Eidmedvl.; It should enjoy a. nioderatte 
Broadway /stay. • but :lts pwssage;. oi 



jive-talk lyric Willi good ' sta^'iiiR. 
This is. doubled w.itiv Japk' (Mit'chfeU 
diid) ; Diiraht, who elides later, in the; 
Second lap -v ith 'Do It the Hard 
.Way,' .clever Bob Altoin staging^ and 
again : paired : with June Havoc. 
t)urant'>!.' amazing' npr^-daiicihg, es- 
pecially for one of his sturdy build,, 
cainei-as a particular suiDrise to the 
first-nighters klthoiigH it 'is standard 
. , , , . stufT with him lii vaudeville, niteries, 
,...,.ty)si>ii -.Iff''''": etc" ''' ' '' ■ . •- ■ ■ 

V;'^. vniv^i^u^im |- •;. Claii;e Anderson, o'eie. pf the line of 
..■,\>.T"tm ci-.irke f 18, clicks here with good specialty 
i . . . Jciry wifyte ijjt; aih T eccentric connedy roujine. 
...AyoMii^jliHTij : jshii-iey Paige, '.with a -solo terp ;spe- 
'.V. .'.".j?:iii Ca.-<io j cialty^ :is another- iMS^j: standout in. 
.Dummy. .«ipovii,h I the flristTact flnaie. wHertf Joey looks 
..jai-.k punint into jhe futurc and conjures^ tip a 
mad, 'dreain of .uUr'a-swatilc. in /cafe; 
decbr," ■- : 

Gene. Kelly. 'and Miss .Havop; are 
ilerhaps the : most energetic -/of- . the 
cast. ."Kelly is' omnipotent with his 
song^arid-dance, doing his versatile 
characteriiation with unusual> skill. 
He .personifies .the cocky m.c, who. 
can also 'make with the. feet' (and 
proves it: cbnsummiately vwith some> 
expert' legmah^a); it: the ;same' tirhe 
handling vocal and histrionie assign- 
ments, in a solid all-round. shbwman- 
ly manner;- For an uhknowii piE-twb 
■yeaiis ago,; Kelly has . traveled fast 
and 'far.., \.' ■ 

Among f Q oth ot e:obserVatib.ns 
Shoul d . come the b londe, and very 
personable .Vart John^'uii, Out of the 
hrhe . ■ 'g entlemen^'-^-^the-^ensemb.'"' 



..Injno.s' I^aiio 
;.,CHrtHu><liU.i: 



diirt may;, militate against real hit 
proportions.; .".- ■ ■ ^ 

Joey "Evans, ;'so;: well . played by 
Gene Kelly, .is . consummately- the 
punk. As tesulf, what might broadly 
pa.ss Ibr . .'sophistication' makes in 
some, respects fbr a quite unpleasant 
evening lii'the theatre because of.the- 
compliele lack of .isyihpathy. lor our 
heel of a hero. On thfe affirmative 
side are suridry other assets which 
should give -Pal Joey' a faiif total of 
weeks oh the , .Broadway . . stage, . al- 
though, from a purely econbmie per- 
spective, the $100,000 production nut 
and the- Barryniore -theatre's limited 
capacity, .woiild . require -fully . . six 
months for George Abbott to get out 
of the! red, even if he did absolute, 
capacity during all that. time. 

'Pal Joey' holds lots of solid ehteir- 
tainment. for. the rahk-!ahd'-file, and 
lor the so-called calersoblety, show- 
wise and. Broadwa;y bunch 'there are 
extra! values. in Lorenz Hart's devas^ 
tating lyflcis and' .O'Ha'ra's . realistic 
portraiture pf his . characters. 

On production values Abbott 
hasn't sjiared the horses; Jo Miel- 
zinei: let himself go in that flrst-act 
finale; an imaginative, de luxe class 
nitery conce J).tipn which is.' what sent 
the production overboard. Robert 
Alton's equally imaginative • dance- 
staging and Abbott's brilliant inter^ 

gretations of the O'Hara lines, and 
[art wordage are parted only by the 
principals? expert; troUping. . . 

Gene Kelly who, apatt from ,dbirig 
cafe dance-staging for Billy- Rose 
arid ' essaying a minor role as a 
broken-down hoofer in. Eddie Dowlr 
Ing's Time of Your Life,' plus two 
other musical bomedy efforts, 
efherges as a big league performer 
as 'Pal Joey.' His interpretation of 
the self-centered, smug and ornery 
' conferencierj who goes frbm making, 
every other chorine into a 'love nest' 
and a 'special Chez Jo6y* bank 'ac- 
count. . is. exicellent. Both - are .bank- 
rolled hy. the .post-3.0s playgirl 
whom Miss Segal so skillfully per- 
sonates, the comedienne is in rare 
i form with her handling of lines and 
.lyrics, and clicks particularly with 
.'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewild^ 
ei*ed,' a song 'that's not fpr the kid-, 
dies the . kilocycles, whethier ior 
not- ASCAP ^lid V the broadcasters 
make "peace, .the' lines arei^'t just 
s.aucy, they're fbrthright • in their 
Rabelaisian phraseology, but, -done in 
ROdgers . and tlart iambic pehtaiha'i 
ter, they're highly delectable for the 
$4.40' customers. . - '. . 

The Hatt -lyrics and Itch ROdgers- 
equally fetching tiine settings sdin- 
tillate throiif hbu.t.- Jean Gastb's, satire 
on Ann Goi'io-Gypsy Rose -Left with' a 
'Zip^ humbftr, mirroring, the acaidemid 
thoughts that ..these darlings of the 
Minsky dopes >hink, as they're shed* 
ding- a petal here arid a leaf there, 
is top: sophisticated rhyniesterir(g. - 
ThGi'e's as jtiuch . truth as pb'etryi 
also, in. Miss. Segal's vobal soliloquy 
that, "Love Is My Friend,' and. 'Talc'e 
Hinfi,' the latter wherein: bbth Miss 
Segal and ingeriue Leila Ernst. brush 
Pal Joey "^ffv. but, jfor. ,differerit. rea- 
sons.. .Miss Ernst, is uhtisualI,V re- 
freshing amidst the pliissage of . sex 
stuff that constitutes the . evening's, 
plot urif biding; :She figures as 'per 



who, .handling ai . few lines, manages 
to project himself quite . vividly.- Also . 
those dandy . Hans Spialek .arrange- 
irients,; wherein a muted trumpet 
does ;a '■ ^conversation' bit, ;■ mouthed 
by . Pal Joey, that ,, adds a lot to tha 
proceedings, and, oit course, with that 
department goes ' Hatry , Levant's 
batoning, of the rhythmic pit band. : 

\ Abet. ■ 



MY SISTER EILEEN 

Cpirtedy -In 'tlir^e -Qclv pfesenleii at the 
31ltmore, .N. Dec. 20, '40, by : Max 

G6rdon;' -written - Jjy ' 'Jo'seph .- I-'leld* ntid; 
'Jerome Chodorov. from :Btorles by Rutti. Mc- 
Kenhey; staged, by Ocor^e . S..- Kautiiiaii; 
¥;l.30 top. 

Mr, Apppp6Iou3. . ... .V. . tMbrrlit Carnovslyr 



IRuth Sherwood,.',.. 
.Eileen Shenvoijd • • v. 
Jenaen . . . > ;.:. ..... 

A. 'Street Amb. . ;;. , 

A Pair , of Drunks 

Lnhlg&n; .;../.'. . 

The Wreck..;...,,....-.. 

Another. Street . Arab..«-. 
Captain' Fletcher.'. . . . . . 

Hefen- Wade.. . . . , ,, 

Franft- LlppencoU...... 

Ghio Clark. . ... ......... 

Co«.^ac1Ci 

Violet. Shelton. . . ,-. . ... . 

Mra.: -^'ado;-; ., ..;i ;..-.'. . 
Robert Baker. '.' , . i-, . . ; . 



Six' Future AdinlraU.. 



.'Walter < Stiervrood ..;;,: 
A 'Pi-oapwlive Tetiuiil.. 
The Consul. . ... . . ... 



her bringing home future Brazilian 
adrii ir-als. -. "The apartment was Once 
ii^ed. by one. Violet who accommo- 
dated men on the loose, which; 
doesn't' help .'at • alf. A .Villager ' in. 
love' \Vith an engineer frorri, Georgia 
Tech, . who insists On ; singing that 
school's, football Song, is . another 
ciOihplifcation.; He's.^ just . ^yait^ng. 
arbuiid in shorts .unlU the' pro foot? 
aail season ;starts-.'. ' -'• ->. ' 

Apjpopolbus. the greasey. landlord 
ig. also no bargaini ' Atiion^- the other 
advantages of : tiie basement flop is 
the libise of subway, blasting . iihder- 
healh, ..'but , th6 effiept is; ;nbt '.aii- 
Ihehtic . Papa SherxVood- conies , to 
fetch the girls homCi .Then; Ruth 
lands a job' with a tab, Eileen gets a. 
deqoratipri from the, Brazilian con- 
sul (anothei;pppdirturiity to faring bri 
the cadefsX and, the, story of the sis- 
ters frbnr the sticks terminates fa.^; 
Vorably .eribiigh. • ■ 

Best known in; the "cast is Morris 
Carnbv.sky, who has ■ "scored 
Group .'theatre shows; . His Appopb.' 
loug is a rriatter of: opinion; especi- 
ally the authenticity of his : Greek 
dialect.; Shirley Booth, as RiUhv-is 
the saner of the sisters. ; The cbirier 
liness/of Jq Ajih.Sayers is aii a.ssct 
ih the title part, this beiri^ hev 
first Brb'ad.way asisgnment. She has 
been in .several filriis. ;. ■ ; ;•' .'• 
Bruce MaoFavlane, playing the . fly 
reporter; and .Gordon Joii'es," who is 
the gin-dririkihg pride of tech, both 
are okay. They came east with 
-Quiet please* and; are how doing 
distijictly. better. IticHard Quine, as 
tKe . drugstore lothario. - contributes 
Several funny bits; William Post, Jiri; 
maljes ' thie young friiagazine editor 
likeable; ., Josieph Kallini; gets " laughs 
as the consul fbr Brazil;; ;Eda Heine- 
man;.ori only for ,a fe.w minutes late 
in the- show, counts with eyfery line 
and deserv.es a longer part; while 
£lfierge_Ji?pttbri, cQunts;late in. the 
show as the. .sli5verily- janitor, a- sort 
tifT^ oniiie. , ("Q f !Mit. 'e-^ and . i /ltr&y^ 
which is: probably anbtheif Kaufniian 
contribution ; the • Script from the 
Coast writing-pair. Joseph Fields and 
Jerpme ChOdorovT- -who dramatized 
the book.;-.- - -Ibcc.' 



American debute he plays an odious 
Nazi ; embassy .offlclal with such 
krilfe-edged clarity, vlvid.projectioh 
and authority that he gives riibtiva- 
tlori arid emotional ; impaQt to the 
entire play. It Is a stunning por- 
trayal that stamps , Hernried. as ;an 
asset to Broadway -arid . an .iailmost 
certain bet for Holly wObd. '. 

Bettjr Field plays a , youhR Amer- 
ican wife with keen; .perception and. 
appealing tendprness, but 'the , part 
offers insufficient; dramatic or emo- 
tional, scope fpp. an ; ^ctres^ :of . her 
talent. ;. Hugh;Mftrlowe is likable and ; 
rightly undecisive as the young hus- 
band.; '■ Arnold Moss^ .gives -another 
Of his . incisive; -performanbes as a: 
liberal Avritef who appeats .to be a 
kind ; of author's prototype^ ,■ ■ Con-, 
stance McKay is plausiBly; direct and 
active . as- an obvibus pbrtrait ,pf 
Dorothy Thohipson.. / \. ' v 
. . Eleonora . Mendelssohn, -Lydia St; 
Clair, Karl Maiden, James Seeley,; 
Bbris Marshalov '.' and : Gr'andpiv 
Rhodes also impress in pnijcif».al 
supporting parts. ; Jo Miclzlriei-'s .<!iii- 
gie setting gives 'a fascinating -ilUi?'. 
siori of reality, - : 

'Flight, to : the . . West' . is in isome 
respects ^a disappbintirig play.. But 
It has; a nuriitber of : v9lU.able thing.s 
to .say .. by a distingiiished theatrical 
craftsman.''- In skillful hands' ~it;^ould 
make promising screen hiaterial.;. ; 
■' -.'>. ■-" ;'-■.■"":--'.-.; ''.ffbbc. 



ALL IN FUN 

. "jrlilBloni; re-viie In lw'o;-ocJi,, ;soi'n<*.'!, • 
'pf-oduoed--b>''-T>oriard -SlllmaiK, bIm> ilJn'ff IHU' 
Roblnisoifi- vFe'iiiuriffi -ln\0((eii'e . Co<-H; I'l-i't 
,K(*lto(>, ^\;yhu- -M\irr.iy, - -Hed; -'WaH-vhall... 
Mu.slo -Jlhd - lyriM'. Uy Baldwlii Ue'rKOt-,<n>'n,' 
June .SlUmiiii,- John- Ili>s; .WlU lrwln, - ' ';-- 
Jluiisel nnd -Clcii liapon.' Stngeil;hy t.'onn-^ 
afd .;Slllm.-xn,-;.\v|lh . -aildlUolial dlrei-lli)n [Uy. 
-,lahri MurraS- -Ao-itoiisoii. , nances rtiivclbd-. 
,l.)y Marjcrj'- ;Fl.fl(l)nK'; - setting' W\ Kdwkril' 
Gllliorl'; <;o9tun>cs by Irehn ;fiI\Brafr. •Orchoa-- 
..tral . (irrnniceinienla' - by ; C-lmrjcs . I... .Cookn 
A.nd HlldlnK Ander'von.' 'Orphe8t,i'a-'dliv6C'ted 
hv Rnv -tfiivnnhpffh - - -Vnhnl -niTiiimoiiii'ntK. 



The Flying Qierardbs 

'. Comedy; 'In tvo (tcts . prejiantbd at. the 
PlayhouMe, . N. T., Vo6. 29, MO, .br ].:,|- 
- want' -Clival^ (In - assocl.ido'n with W. a' 
IJrikdy); wrlllen by. Konydn Nlchbl.<on anil 
;v;h'«rtes Itnljlnson;' FloiTJii.'o>. .. UpeoV I.nlt 
Hiiii; ;Harlan' Brings, - Jack Shoeiiim, ' nich. 
. ard . Ma(!Kay 'featured: slaKPd 'bv' Nli-lioU 
apii; .Heltihir.;hy Ilbrlon. 0>>1J,- .$3.a() liip 



.l)o>! VunnlllloiV. 
Flylng-.Uoruruiia;— 

;-' ArU'.-;--.-.'.,.>.;,V.-.l 
. Opiil, ,', ,' 
; I uVnnn. .;...;.'.. 
'. Ozzlo:.';'. i , i . ; ... . . ; 

-•. . I-Jft'd lo , '. , .', . 1 ;.'. 
,' I'parl.;..:..,-,...... 

;C:hJlok,»;,'.-.r. ..-..;;;.. 
; tta.isnn,.' ;..;..;.;> 
Afama, . ; ',■. . . .i- , . . . .,.' 

WllUiijn ■ Wi'ntwrtfih. 
Mni. Wpniw.ftrlh.,'..: 
Ijr. Jelllcuo. . . . i..., ;. 



..l.lai;lun- li'r.lgSa. 

... ; i ... :7i(cH SliWhnn ' 
. '.-. .Joaiiphlho'.' J-'vaji'* ■ 

i.... -I *is null- 

.».....,.;.-..J6iin-'('uU ' 

.v.. arthy; llliiUloy-. ., 
,-.^.,\..,.li'lM WWlnpy 
...... -(.bylo net-lKi'r^-- 

>.>.'.Jamps Mnrriott 
i,-.> .;. I'Moi-om-a Heed - 
.. ...Hlchard -M'iu'k-ay - 

i .,.Su7.aniin Jnclrann ;'• 
......ClhHi-le'a. KiuhclB -' 



.Shirley Booth 
.....jo Ann Saycr? 

, . ; . . .Ceorge Cotton 
...Eric Roberta 
' f. Arthur Tell 
•••r.lAlva Itfllllprin- 
....;Tom P. Dillon 

I . . ... .-Gordon Jones 

........Bob White; 

.Charles -G. Martin 
... .Joan ' Tompkins 

,'... . ilUChafd i^iilne 

.JSru<>e-MacForlaHe 
, ;Davld Macombe'r- 
.. Erne Atton, 
..;Helen -Ray 
..William Post, Jr. 
; 'I'MicliaQl Ames 
I' Alan BrJxey 
- J Peter ■ ICncgo 
•••• 1 Paul Marlon 

I Mel Rol>erl.i 
■ l-Paul Seymour 
;.... .-.Donald - Foster 

.....Eda Ilelncman 

.....Joseph Kallln'l 



FLIGHT TO THE WEST 

DrnniA In - three- acis - (seven arones) by 
Elmer -Rice. - Foaturea Betty Kleld.' Arnold 
Moss, Paul H(irnrled. Hugh "M<irlbwe. 
'S<tag'e.1..bj- EJmer-ntce, wlth'^settliiR by- Jo 
Mlelzlner. Presented by PlrtywrlKht.^' Co.-,- 
nt GutUl. N. .Y.; Dec 80, '40. 13.30 top 
(J4.40 opening). . - .; -, • ' . . .'. 

nichara ..-Bahnlng. . ,. .Kevlil McCarthy 
Fir.st Mechnnlc. Ralph' Benson; 
Scpond.-.Mechanlc.'.'i . .... >'.;. ; ..Melvln Gates 

.August'. .HImroelrelohi .... . * . .Rudplf. Weiss 

.Thomas Hitkey.. -. > . . ; . .'.■.-. . .', . . .Paul -.Mann 
Edmund DIckenaeh. . . . ... . . 1 .Do|t -Nevtns- 

Marle Dlckenaeii. . . ........ .Ijydla St. Cialr 

Lli^elto DIckensen. .Helen -Renee 
:T..ouls'e Prayne. ,-, w.., ...Constance McKay 
Col. Arohlbald Gage, ..<;;.;.. .Jahtps Seeley 
Count Vronolt. . . v; . . i . ; .-i.-ObrlB -Marshalov: 
Prau .Rosenthal , . ; . ^..F.leori'oiix. MendfiLiautiii' 



Dr. • Hermann WaUlier'. 
llo'wnnl Ingrahani; . ,'.'. .■ 
Hope 'IjJfithnri . .'. . . ; ...... 

Charles Nathan, i .... 

Capt.-- Dci^rge MoN'abi'. . , 
O'ap't. -Arthur Hawkesi. . 
First .Corporal. .-. .-. ,-.-'..•. 
Second CQri)oral . ....... , 



; ;'Pau> Ilernrled 
I i . . . . .Arnold- (Moss 
...Betty Field 
...'.Ililgh. Marlo'we 
..,.^..K*r: Maiden 
. . . randon .Rhodes 
. . . ; ..Tnhn Twiggs 
Harnld Dyrenforth- 



■ further prbmise of better plays as 
the virinter period of the season rblls 
along- was given by 'My Sister 
Eileen,' ; First, night audience reac- 
tion was hardly uniform, but the 
new Greenwich . Village cbmedy 
should fare well; 

iFun in' a dump, called .apartment 
in the 'Village, is served, but it is' 
matter of viewpoint as to what de- 
gree the play is ;diverting. It was. 
adapted from the . stories of; Ruth 
McKenney, .which were first pub- 
lished in the New. Yorker and then 
in bboic form, which \yas rated 
among" the best sellers, ' ; 

Book was episodic and so '.".is 
'Eileen,' which :js Max. .Gordbn's sec- 
ond ; production this seaison but the 
■first to reach. Broadway. , ' That the. 
manager obtained George ; S. Kauf ^ 
man to istage the play was a break,; 
for that ■ authbr-director's : hand 
shows importantly, especially at the 
end of the second actv 

"This bit is the Sudden introductiph 
.of six Brazilian naval cadets*, who 
march - into the ,has€meht jabode of 
Ruth ; -ihd ' ; Eileen - vsherwobd, an 
.arched wii;(3bw gi.virig;ii view: of the. 
piaVefnent biitsidel. with' rubbrsh: can' 
atid :' lamppbst, ; The; caidets, - in ani- 
niaculate : \vhite: . utiif br;hs, furnish 
striking cbnlr^st to: the drab' ;sur- 
roundings. ; Stunt is comparable, to. 
the; sudderi.1 entrance of .the. six picir 
;ture-pr.o"ducef brothers in 'Once In -a 
Lifetime,' a former laiigh ; hit by 
Kaufman iaiid MoSs Hart;.. :. ■ -■ 
".The sisters SheirV/obd.are on from 
Columbus, O'., to make their way in 
Kew : York.; ,; Ruth wants- to be; : an 
author, while the . blonde; and much 
mdre atiragtive Eileen has a yen for 



haps theione good influence on the the stage. She reaches .-the Outei? 
emcee-hieel that is Pa! Joey. Both iwaiting robms of producers .and 
reprise another fetching Rbdgers and l itieJts an ; assortment .pf riebple,- Jh- 



Hart ballad;- 'I Could Write a Book.! 

In the . plot ; development,. Jeah 
Castb tied it -tip .with- ^Zip',' little 
ha.ridieajjpod; by Her begbggled news- 
paper gal. getup'.that included ,mit^' 
ten's, an emergency prop as result of 
the severe ■ burns ; she suffered ' ih 
Philadelphia •thc;\Veek before. Jlow- 
ever,; Miss Casio iri^iH'i'i iiDoh open- 
ing . with ' the- ;J-ho.'"; on- Broadway, 
and, re^i.ste'red hn.*-'. . .; ■.■ :■■.[ 
. .Ti)ni* Wiivof , Ki.stf'r "of frv.tis'v Rose 



eluding ia reporter who 'prefer? 
blondes. : Eileen - also - 'makes* the 
Broadway drug store in ; which 
gather no end of, stage cmbryps" and 
the dpuntw manager .goes for th.e 
kid, Which often means cats Ori,; the 
house. . ;•::.'■ '..; .•; 
. Ruth meets the ; assistant editor, tof 
a magazine who thinks; her .stories 
are .something, biit it - is . Chic . Clark 
of, a tabloid who sends Ruth on a 
bliohev"".a.<?signtTi6nt that resiiits in 



0,ut of his hatred and contempt for 
Nazism, and Inspired by his Clipper 
trip from Europe In the fall of last 
year, - Elmer Rice has written, a 
stinging drama, abbut the threat to 
decency and freedom everywhere. It. 
is called 'Flight -to the West.' and 
the Playwrights' Co. .. presented it 
Monday night (3.0) at the Guild the- 
atre, .N. Y., . as its second production 
of the season. . 

In many respects it is a fine play 
and deserves to- succeed. It has a 
challenging -.subject, is clear In its 
thinltiJig and admirably outsnolten 
in its exposure and attack.against a 
barbaric evil; But it's isolated mo- 
ments of powerful writing are sep- 
arated by long non-cumbustible. 
istretches and it flacks continuous 
drive towaird. an explosive climax 
It is unequal to . Its subject, but 
seems certain to have a successful 
•run. „ ' • 

: Entire action, covering a period of 
about 36 hours, occurs ill three sec- 
tipriis Of the cabin -of 'a trans^At- 
lahtic Clipjjer. westrbbund from Lis 
bon last July; Using a sort: bt 'Grahd 
Hotel'-, .tiefehnique, ■ Rice shoWs how 
the cbrrosive passions, and. cruelties 
of Hitlerism cling to a group of irefii 
gees arid a pair, pf Nazi emissaries. 
-. Before, the plahe has reached- New 
York heairly; everyone- o4; board has 
been spriiewhat effected; while- the 
lives of some have", been • violently 
wrenched. . 'rhere;.is. mbre talk than 
action in the first, act, vvhich does 
J.iftle more than set the s.itUatibn :and 
characters, the pace accelerates!; 
thi-ough the second act to . a .genu., 
inely mbving - sceiie. midway , In' the 
third ;act., But the excitement seeps 
away in the philosophical, slimmary 
of the final; sceriie. . - That should ■ be 
the emotional . Cliifnax of thie play, 
with - Rice . clarifymg his .faith in the 
ultimate, triiimph of iDernocricy over 
■the rhehace; of .. ra,ce-preju(iice : ahc 
oppression..- Yet it is ciivipusly in- 
coriclijsive and. anti-fclimactiC. 

The technical ; difficulty . Of .han 
, dlinig . so ; many characters arid .: to- 
related plot threads in' the harrow 
corifineis^^ bf a plane cabin, \which. ap- 
parehtly hampered RiQe as ft drama- 
tist,."haS not bliffled him as 'a. direc- 
tor. -. Some of ' the scenes are bril 
liaritly" pointed at timesr but even 
the talky .ihteflud.fe have .some, de 
gi'.ee of ,; tension. .; And . mar(.v bf the 
individual performflhcies are , enor- 
mously stirring, \vhich. Is .certainly 
a triumph of direction. . ; 
.. .Outstanding periorhiahce is. given 
by Paul Hethriedi ; formerly of the 
London ,' and previously-'the cbritt 
nental ■ stage and screen. In his 



by .--Pemb'roke- -Pav«^'npnr,t;- ' Oneped' at the 
Majestic- Theatre, K. Y:,.;be6i 37. '40i 

top; ;■; -.■ ' .-'. ..:.' ' ■ ' 

■ CMt'. - Miifli? ;Nash,''' Paul;;aerr.fts.;. David 
Morris,, Doll ;Lbpef,- Maxine ;BprrAl,' V\'n'll'Ar 
Cnssel,- ' Bin "Johnson,- -.A'Tilla -;Alva'rM.- 'Wll-'- 
ilarti' Archibald niid. Cai)dldb.' I.iol.clh'o;- 
dancers;. ' Kirk Alyh, lIcnry- .Dlok. '.Mlldi-'od 
Law, ' Jack , ''Whitney, -.. Ray.-.'- liOhg,; Puk 
Paarls, Nancy ;No(>1-, .Orplia' lilckcy. - t'li'ris.; 
topher. Cuvtls,' Dorothy . llennl^j - 'tievoiiy ' 
Whitney; quBrtolte'.- - Bol» - Oglpsby. .nob: 
Herrings,- retor'Holllday' and £d . Pli|il;; -; 

Btli Robinson , has . danced . .un- 
counted taps down the rhythm lane, 
which has led to the Majestic;, the- 
atre, where his name shines in sipsirk- 
ling; incandescents as the star in 'All 
In Ftin,' a two-act, 2S; scene musical 
reviie; produced .by Leonard Sillman, 
with. i^staging assistance, from .John 
Mtirfky An'derson. Boiangles- is the. 
drily colpred player in a cast that Is 
composed chiefly of - younger .per- 
formers; supported by an agile and 
versatile dancing choru$ that moves 
as If inspired by the . iriimitable 
Robirisbh.-— ■ 

la the other e^cntlal departments 
of music and- cbmedy; 'All In Fun' is 
short of the . requirements of highly 
succesful . BrOadway : revues.; Per 
haps the musicaLscore is better than 
the singing, which is rather second- 
rate.' The sketches and blackouts 
are amusing Without being side 
splitting. Revue as a whole is not; 
likely to stick around very long. .It's 
of an old-school genre in the main 
Featured iare imogene .Cbca, an 
amusing and accomplished clo.wn; 
Pert Keltori, who • does first class 
characterizations;. Wynn Murray; 
transformed from robustness to a 
slender prima, donna, and Red Mar- 
shall; a Jtnockabout burle.sque comic, 
who is.^ mirthful addition to the 
never top ; long list of Broadway 
Cbmedians 

In the general makeup of 'All In 
Fun,' Sillman has pieced together a 
revue, of unrelated parts. On the 
whole it is pleasingly satiric, not of 
the times, but bf the. theatre. The 
sketches are; by. Virginia Faulkner, 
Charles Sherman and Everett Maicy. 
Somie of them are new, twists on old 
igags, such 85 the Pullman car rough- 
house, called 'Red Rails in the Sun 
set/ . and .a ■ rejuvenated dentist's 
office skit. -Brightest "and funniest is; 
•Manhattan Transfer/ ih -vyhicH two 
travelling saleswomen .entice; their 
city bbyTft-ieridis. to. their hotel room; 
As played by Misses. Coca; and KUl- 
tbn and the bashful Red Miarshali it 
is funny, arid ri'ot too blue. 
. Music . is by Baldwin. Bergersen 
and John Rox with- lyrics .by June 
Sillman and Mjss Faulkner. 'Whfei^e 
Can L Go Frdm Ybii' and 'Lpve and 
r aire pleasing without itripressirig, 
'Ho.w Did it - Get So Late. So ;Early,' 
sung by Marie Nash and Bill John 
.son and tuned by WiH Irwin, and- 
'My ■ M0mbries Started VWith. ; Ybn," 
anpther -Bergersbn: piece, seemed 
;Closer; . to popular - taste- Numbers: 
wiH;haye the henefit of airing over 
the networks, as :the'musi6 does not 
bear the AsCAP Jabje^. 

Paul Gcrrits;-has 'an 'fiasy' ma-riner 
as an bCcaSipnal m\c. ;and,his roller- 
skating is- something; -way out of the 
ordinai'y,. ; The dance -team; Anita 
Alvarez and William Archibald, are 
Spbtted to' advaritiage' and shpw; -well 
every time, ,6nly .i-eal voice iii the 
trbup ; is Candido- Botelho, -Who is 
saved until riext-to-closipg, .when hie 
sings , a Brazilian sbrig- as if lie was 
haying.^ good: time. - . . , ;. 

Settings by Edward vGilbei-t.arie 
colorful . arid . excellently, lighted; 
Irene Sharaff's cbstuming. features 
the femme figiire; A bi-owii and 
green effect, for the girls was strik- 
ing. Ray ;Kavanaugh conducts with 
!;pirit, taking - a .wide range of temps 
;nght' in stride. ; ' ' Fliu.. 

(.Closed after ttiree performances; 
printed for the record.) . • ' 



• • Getting off -tb a. Sunday start,, first : 
debut since, 'Broadway has beon ex» 
periinen ting with -slip ws' oir lhat nijjht ~ 
^prp.Ved rather diverting, cpm'edy, but . 
wlielher it will reach tbeVwi'rining 
circle: is. qucstioiiable. '. ,;;,; . . 

; Authors dipped into the. circus for 
their characters arid have an idea 
Ihat'S hardly aS fiinny as was antici- 
pated. Presentaticn seemed tp have : 
. been too much hasterifed,; debut going 
on after lpreviews,..yct it's dpubtfiil • 
;if put-?pf-rt>wn showings would haye ; 
beeri'any inpr« adyaritagePus;. . \ 

.; Most of ' the;, players , are supposed 
to be' members of a caitirig act, there 
being eight in the Gerardo tuin. 
Some of the terihs used ate; authentic, 
while others aire .not. heard; ori th ' 
tbt;. ;,"Pi(eir.;,-,type. .of;.. performer is 
known; as flyers; biit in tiie play- 
they . :nr> called .leapersK .- . ,; •;■ ' 

. Mama derardo . runs the act, which;: 
like any riumfaer Of. suiippsgd. family- . 
turns, ' is^ ; cbmppsed.Of . perforrhcrs ; 
who.atre'nb: kin to each other; ;, Be- 
cause it is the off. seasbri ifor the big 
top,.;the Gerardos are pliyirig; dates 
such, as the Shrine circuS in Brook 
lyir 



Tlratr-BccbmrtsriprihtfffirbtciTi"^ 
pying the top floor- bf a house over ■ V 
there, the place being- ooriducted. by • 
Doc .;VermiHiGri, a veterinary wise ''. 
in the lore prthe;big;tbp;.. 

Star, iflye^ of the act lis Donna, .With - 
the act since, a tbtv. She f alls.-iri love 
with William . Wentwbrth; - Columbia ' 
college grad Who is studying for his 
Ph.D. His knowledge astounds- the '. 
girl, who thirsts for learning, and 
she starts, reading the History of 
Mankind, . . her ; co^rperf brriiers • ;beirig 
lamazed that any, of them; should go . 
scholastic.:. .;• ■■; , 

Mama Gerardo Is oiitraged, ' and ; 
only when Donnti.threaten.s to leave.' 
the act will she permit Wllliam/to 
call . His islight physique, is scorned '; 
by . the others, .Whb; curiously', 
enough, look M;cCby ih the frill tights. 
When Donria is otit, this boys; decide ; 
to give Williarii the business. He is 
lifted ; t5 a practice- trapeze, swung 
in a wide arc,: then sent . flying Into V 
ahothe^r 'room ' when ' the : b^r is . 
snapped;--;';. 

William, however, is not injured^ 
His .iiunt 'and the family dpctor are 
sent for and the latter quickly 'dis.- ;. 
cerris that the boy is in lpve, seeing 
no reason why he shbtildh't join; the 
troUpe. Boy then beCbnies the ninth • 
Gerardo, not as a flyer, vbtit .as a 
clpwn, alluded to . as a 'Joie.' Ro- 
mantic end of the play is acceptable, 
though the participanta; ai^e . ft ; 
Strangely , assbrted paii". . 

Florence Reed , returns . to the 
Broadway - bbards as Mama, ; her 
characterization of the.- gaudy "woman 
being possible, though inpst pf the:, 
circus aunties and' manias are any* . 
thing, but cparsei Lbis Hall playq 
Dpnna, - having the slini body of a 
girl flyer arid; an earriest istyle; of . 
performance. Harlan Brig^s,, as the 
hpf Se dpc, seems tp be the most real 
-character. Richard - MacKay, . as 
Williams and Jack Sheehan are also 
feattired, with Miss Reed having top 
billing. Lyie ; Bettger displays the 
muscles of an aerial catcher. I bee. 



MEET THE PEOPLE 

■ Rovue .'in two acts; .-30 scenes, presfntod 
l.y the Hollywood Theatre. AUIapco at. :t1i» 
MttriSfleW, N. Tr„ Dec. 23, '40. -Staked by 
Danny Dare: ,m.uslc;.by- JayOorney- W'" 
lyrics- by Henry. Myersr .rcyUo eilltor, Ed- 



ward. Ellsciu;. sketches' directed by .Mortlnier. 
OITaer.; soUlnga by Frcdcrlelt Stovor.; cos-- 
tuihpR by Uerd'a Vajiilcrii'ocrs.&.Kate I***"'^ 



Son; llglitlrtR by Hoy Holmes; muslcal.^Uec-.' 
,llori,. Archlb mey.er; - ji:(.30 .top; ' . .- 

Gust: • Fay - Mckchzlei ' Bftrhey FlilUlp/!.;. . 
Marlon C.olbJ-; r«lrtcla ' BrllhanlA; Tiewl 
.'Carew,. Nuhetle;PaI)arei*,..'Sifio HCibln,- Mar .e . 
DeForest, Virginia. Bt-yart, I.bis Paiir, Kddle 
Johnson,. Ted Arltin, Jdck.' Hoyle.' Ant'us... ■ 
Hopklhs, Kttnnelh rhtlcrson. nobcrt .DilVls. . . 
.MU'hiiil/. Doyle.'- ftorotlij? -ItobertSj . 'KaTe 
KiHcnberk. -novc'rly .Weaver. -R'ubcvt;- N.n^ih.;- 
• KlJ7,abelh. . Talbo't-Marllri.: .; Jnflc . Gilford. . 
I'c'gRy Hyn'n, -Jack .Alb.crtson.- • fiooJJcs 
\V.p«ver,=-J.ack .WlllliUns.-.-JospiJilne pelnv 

: .'A live, .-freshy talented trouiJe .oi ; 
'hew faces"!; hits Broadway for.- a-'hu.<. 
Playing sparkling .material with .?11 
the .^.verve . youngsters can - .mustHV.: 
this little revue; from - the- Pacitic ., 
Cpast captivated the opening . niglu 
audience at the Mansfield.; It's not ., 
ofteii that, perfbi-marices can avou.*je 
an aijdience' to : cheers, hut this :is..- . 
what actually happened at the finale, , 
and so far as. this ireyiewci' .;Wa5 . ; 
concerned; the show could have run. 
on and on and. on without becoming 
tiresbiriev- 

•:: biie thing 'Meet the People' proves 
deflriileiy-:-the.; living- . theatre curi 
never die so; long as new. talent like 
these .kids cari bfe found,. Plus., 
naturally, the sparkling s.kctch and 
song material provided them; plus .:, 
also the swifty- paced clirectipn^. ex- " 
■pressive scenery ahd.^ pQSttimi.ng. Its 
a little show that ranks in brilhaince / 
(Continued on page 45) 



Wednesday, J'anuAry 1, .1.941 



JLEGITIMAtE 



45 



' V • . . . . fidston, iiec. 31. ■' '. 

'.. 'VuslCAl. '.pIay tn tivti. act's,', seven, acenes,' 
by ';M6a .-Hart and ptfatMti - by Saiji ■ JI, 

.HarrU. ' Star* Qertru.de l4wr«nce; mualc 
by Kurt . IW.ellV ' wl.tll- lyrlc.a . by . Ira,. Qierah- 
TVlii; Btaeed^, by Moai' Mprt: ' production find 
llebtlnR by '.Hassiard ^hbrt;: rlioreogriiph'y 
by v.'Albertinil' ■ Rascb';'. mualcdr. direction/: 
Maurice ' A bnavanel;- Ecttlhga designed by 
Hiirry Horner; cojsiupiie.t by Irene Rhot^fft ' 
At. Colonial tlieatre,..!Bostpn,.'Dec, '80, '40.' 
X>r. Brooks, ....i;'.'..<>......Doria)(I nkndolph' 

&jllsB-'Bo\yer8. • • v.^ :Jpanne Shelby. 

'Liza Klllptt. ; . i , .'. .Gerti'virle' LftWrence . 

' MlHB. Koater. .-,■.'. . . .V. . ■.> .'.■■. Evelya. Wyekofr- 

'IrflsH -.Stevens. , ...■.Anri'liee.- 

MHjSRie' Grant. iMni'garet' bare 

. AUson 'Du .Bo|s'.', . ; ,Kdtal|e. Scha'fer 
Suissell raxtoni,i.-.~,r;'.7;. .v; .Dniiny Kaye 
^hprley . Jphnsoh; . . . , .. . . MaodonaM Carey 

.Riindy Curtia; .,.-, .Victor Mnliire' 

. Joe. . . ..; ...'.•'.>';.'.'...;,.;',.. .GeorKe Bockrnnn 

■ Q'om. ; i . .■>■.■. .-..v.-. .-t.. Nelson Dorclirt 
Kendall . ; . ; , .... . . . . . .Bert I.,ytall 

■ Helvii .■ . . ,' , , .'Virginia .Peine 
'Ruthle. ; .■ ." .'. .■;'. . * . i'. .'. ...fieada- Petry . 

CarOl.'v; .;'. . Paific.la Deering 
Marvlo . ... . . ...i . ..4 .:. . Margaret' Westbfrjix 

Ben .Butlef 1 r '• • •'♦ ? • • » • • .;. . •■ w Oah . Harden- 
Barbara.'. .V. ..v..'.v,'. .'Ii:ieant)re'..']!iber.le 
Jack. v. ... ... .v.; . ... ..Da'yls ..Cunnthgh'aiti 

- Whether 'Lai^^^^^^ ijark^ is a 
amash. hit is . problematical^, but .it: 
should enjoy a long enough run to 
recoup -the $150,000 rumored to .be 
■pent oh' its production. 'While the 
play, about .a neurotic glanYour magiaT; 
.^ihe editbr (Gertrude Lawrence) -is < 
depressing, especially to women,:the 

- charm , of - .the • dream seqtiehcesi 

■■ staged by .Ha'ssaiid Short," offsets that. 

■ bad'vtaste..;: ;■■ --...:'■ 

; 'Short excels himself, usihg f6ur 

..revolving., stages and breath-taking 

. lightirfg. Mechanically it is, the riiost 
intricate show he has .dpne, -aha he 
produces beautiful ^effects in the 
dream jscBrtes by lusHTSf: special glass 

..fabric scenery, and ' propis . and -by 
employing only overhead, backstage 
•iights;!6n' .the 'dance huitiberi, i?here 
arie no curtains used- sdme set's are 
built into the turhtables; \vhile Others 
.■sketchy, ' impressionistic - tabs 
createdjwith bbrtable props. • 
;-. Miss Lawrence plays the neurotic 
woman well. So well that .when she' 
ha.^ herself psychoanalyzed ..through 
dreams, , :niany : Worhien out front 
squ.irm in sympathy. If Hart'? play 
were fui'ther. developed and- without 

. music it. would be' too lierve wirack-^^^ 
;lrig,- though he .. has iinserted som^ 
laugh,s that relieve tension. It would 
likewise he monoton'Olis to watch 
•only dreams 'set tp jqnusic and danc- 
ing, but the combihatioh, frapWy An 
experiment, is satisfying enteirtain- 
ment. . ■■ ; y ■ .> -; • -. • . 
; Best . number is fantastic circus 
scene, which has charm and light- 
hearted .abandon. Except here, Mi^ 

. Lawrence is acceptable, but .hot ini- 
pressive, as a vocalist, but wheii she 
sings .a .low. blue ditty, .'The Saga of 
Jenny,' shie ties up everything^ only 
a. few minuted: before Danny Kaye, a 
legit: discovery, does likewise With 9 
tricky lyric involving rapid fire de- 
liyery of, famed Husslan names in a 
Gilbert-Sullivan techhiaue. Kaye is 
also sbckb- in the play as a: flitty 
fashion photpg. . ,; ; - 
Miss. La.wrencc : endows : the $how 

■with charm and piquah,cy, and troops 
i^agniflciently in the mixed environ- 
ment of realty and phahtiisy, - Her 
'fans will be nleiased gerieraily, ...Shie, 
gets good support from .Kaye, Mair- 

/garet . Dale. Natalie Schalef, Mac- 
Donald Carey and Dohald Randolph; 
A group Of children In several Hart- 
Bach scenes of the psychoahalized 
are well directed and .contribute 
much charm, 

Victor Mature, from films. Is dis- 
appointing dramatically and., musi^ 
cally a.s a Hollywood glamor boy-, 
but Bert Lytell gives good support as 

/an aging lover.. Show runs about 
30 minutes' Overtime .and . one wise 
cut would be ia.highschpol sequence 
with Miss Lawrence as a Coy girlie.: 
kiirt Weill's scOre is good all the 
way, as are his . orcheistrations arid 
arrangements. Ira Gershwiri's lyrics 
greatly; brighten the . atmospherie,. 

,^irl , of the Moment.' 'Ohie Life to. 
Live, 'Jenny.'. 'this is. New,! and 'Bats 
About You' are the. best tunes, Maiu- 
rice Abrariariel; until riOvir a conductor, 

' at the Metropolitan, and . Chicago. 
: opferas, .rates corhmendation for ace. 
'hiusical direction. ' 
: Harry Horner's sets, w.ere oHcri -apr 

: iBlayded; as were' the" costuines :6f 
Irene. Sharaff and the choregraphy of 
Albertitxa :Rasch. It was the smooth- 
est opening here in some time.. The 
secnerv al6n6 was TcKea-sed four 
days;. A singing 'chorus is prorpinerit 
and a definite asset, . : ' - .^P^> 



: ! Artienic and XDW^tace 

' ' : . V. ; ■ tialtirhorei.' D^ 
.'ComtKty .In Tl.hrpe. actii,;.by' -jc-sppK. .Keascr- 

■ TlnK;" ■prbdlii.'ddV- by ' Howa'ud I.lmlHiy '. anrt 
.' BusFcl: Crouse;' jslaged- by Bretalgrte -Wlh- 

dU8(;. setting by -R;(y.monil. isbvey;-.at''>lary-' 
. land', thfntte, ;.:.Balilmorc; jPet-. -20, .-!,-I.O. ■ . - 
-Abby. ''sleri v. ;.'..'....-; .-Joiophlfle '.'Hull 

The Rev. .' ; Harper..;'. ... . . : Wyrley' BIrcb 

Tedfly . jlrewiiterV. >.-.-..; '. . ... i '. John Alexiinder 

Oft(cer Brophyv.'..-.'.;... John Qujgg 
.Offlcer Klein .'. ...... : ,-. . .v. . .Bruce Gordon 

. Mafth*. Brewster. ... . i.. ;'. -. 1 .v; . Je'.'in Adalf . 
BlaIpe -.Hafperl . -. . .... . IfllziibelH Iiigllse 

'. Mdj-llnier Brewster...';...*.. .A Uyn Joslyn 
Mr. Olbba.;..;... ....Henry Herbert 

Jonalhati Brewster. .. ; , . . ;Boria KarJorC. 
Dr.' Eln!>tvln'..,. /.'..I. '..'..-.. ..;.E;dgar Slchll 

' Officer .p'Har*; • . ....y...'" ... Anthony. Ross 

■ 'Lieutenant' Rooney Victor ..Suihe rlaitd 

Mr. .WJiherspoon..,..i^..»...0-ll!lrim i'arjte 



This }s one. of those plays that evi- 
dently looked like surefire stuff in 
script forrri. jt has a wealth of un- 
usiial angles that . augur well knd 
there are .unusual chairacterizations, 



good situations and . a number .of 
knowing cracks figured to get a.hOwl 
iroiti- tf BrbadWay audience. In play- 
ing; ^ however/ it ' lacks a : continuity 
of punch a.nd sustained spck which, , 
unless accomplished, in' its .tryout 
stage, must limit its possibilities to 
a modest metrojiolitan run - at best. 
: Prerhise is..rather oirigiriai; In. an. 
old, house . in; Bt'boklyh live .Abby 
aind Martha. Brewster,, two isweet ahd 
charity-workinig old ladiies.^ They 
H^ve one. failingV:tho'ugh, ;and that 
is; a desire to poispn': homeless and 
lonesome old men' with hospitable" 
elderberry wine charged . with a 
deadly concoction of arsenic-istr-ych v 
nine and: cyanide. .TW.elve guests 
have beieh '.laid low and respectfully 
interifed ^with fitting religious cere- 
•mpnial in the "cellar , below. 

To . add' to ' the" addled householdi 
there, is a nephew v>fio.;think3 he i.s 
Theodbre :Roosevelt and who assists 
in the burial of his aunts' 'victims 
in \the belief that-they rai'e 'yellow 
f ever fatalities "beihg ' laid to rest • In 
the locks .of , the ; ; PSniama . Carial^ 
•which he is 'digging: dbwhstaii's.' j .. : 

A s'eeorid nephew iis a woHdrtoani- 
ing criminal, ajsp bent oh adding to 
the death lists as - quickly as he can 
have his phy'sipghomy Changed by a 
sidekick ntiedicb, whimsically naimed, 
Dr, Einstein. Current disguise : is 
that .of Boris Karloff, and the kill<jr 
do.esn't like the face at all, awaiting 
pnly, the, return to his boy'hood home 
after, year's of . imprisonntient to have 
it changed to a .more becoming, puss, 

■ To complete :the',;screwy. 'family; 
there is another nephew who. is . ob.-! 
vvously" " okay ' except that^.hie's . S 
drima Critic on a Brooklyn paper. 
He gets wind, of the strange deeds 
Of his. aunts and cousins .and tries 
to straighten matters out. ... . 

. There's ; romahce too, •which ' Is 
seeriiiriiiry hfeaded for the rocks wh&t 
.with the lad's newly 'discovered fami- 
ily. trait of insanity. The .return of 
thie cousin with the Karloff face is 
an added .complication. ; A rather' 
obvious and bluntly, telegraphed 
thiird act sOliition, ho\yever, Hapipily. 
makes of the ci-itic ah illegitimate 
son arid therefore able to, proceed 
with Ills affairs as his relatives are 
finally and properly .dealt with. A 
neat twist brings' dowri the last cur- 
tain to. a good laiigh. 

There are : mariy funhy moments 
and sparkles of poteritial gold-bear- 
ing ore in this play, but in its pres- 
ent state, it rambles around a. bit too 
riiuch ; with the highspot;5"tPo .widely 
Spaced between innocuous doings 
to riiake - matters: click; First act 
takes too. long, tOr get started arid a 
'long lull in the middle of the sec- 
ond act also, bogs riiatters down; 
Third act solution should be given 
some adroit. haridlirig away from the 
old-age device employed at. presejjt/ 
/ Acting is, uniformly good. Boris 
Karloff .handles himself well\for an 
'acto.r wh<> has been away from a 
stage; iso long... As the nephew who 
looks like Karloff, he is properly 
sinister and effectively .meriacirig. 
Allyri. Joslyn, as the Brooklyn critic, 
has most of the meat of the play and. 
,'hahdles it tO; the hilt from the very 
teeoff. Josephine ^HuU and Jean 
Adair are excellent as the brace Of 
looney ladies,- as are John Alexan7 
deir, the nephew with the T. R. com- 
plex, arid £dgar Shehli, a face-rlift- 
ing medico, : Elizabeth Inglise is decr 
orative as the femme end of -the -rOr 
maritic side, Stitting by Rayrripnd 
Sovey- is authentic and suitable to 
the play's: mood. : Direction by Bre^ 
taigne Windust was a bit spotty at 
the- tryout here, ' Burin. 

BATTLE OF ANGELS 

Boston, Dec.\ 30. 
Drama ' In two ;,Bcts. three '.^cene!!, by'. 
Tennessee Wllllani!' aiid presented by. the 
Theatre Giiird>. ' Stars Miriam . Hopklnit;; 
reattirea ■ IJorlS Dudle.Vi- - NVe.sley ;' AiUly ; ..di- 
rected -by Mnrg.-iret- • 'WetMer; . aeillng' :by 
Cleon ThrAckmorinnl- music li'y (;olln .Mf- 

■ Phce;: pi-oiluctlrtn under suiierylslori - of The- 
rcsa .He'lburh anil. ;r-nwr.onrK -Lcingnet.-' At. 
AVilbur lii^lre.'IJee. 30;.,'-I0. . ' - 

jinblly . Dlanci. -;;.;'. '.: . ; ; ; . ;,. Dorothy . Peterson- 
llenlnh i-CiiriwrlB^l,;;.. . . : . . . .Edith King 

Pee Wee- filartd.^ . . . .- 'riiilierl. Kmhardt 

.«hpr)rf:'-Titll.mtt.,^...;:; .-Tv-Ch:irleif. .NfcX'ltiJlftnrt . 
.('ns>!anOi-a WliilesUi'e. . , . . ; . ... ;r>oi-lH. IJiudloy . 

Voo' .'ralbo'ft ,;;-'.;.. ;; ;;. . ...'.'Kaihcrlno. naht 

V.nitnHne';.->Cnv1er. . . . , .-AVcPlej!" Adiiy, 

Tiva .Tcm'gle... ;.'..; , . .'. H .iz-el. Itonna 
Itlnntrh ■ Teiiijvle. ;.;.,'. . ,.. . .-. .Holori- C.irfwe 

Myra To'i ra'ni'c... . . . .'. . ... Mh-in-m Hopkliis: 

■Joe . ; . . ;'. .'. . ; . ; . . , C'<i re.nce -Washlnitl «n 
;<niiiU ' huy.. .; . . : ... . Bei-(r»'m Uoliiles 

nennle... . . v. . . ,..., ,'. .-. . ; . . .. ..1'Va.h; •I,<>'\vl!i 

Ja be 'IVi-ra lice . . . . ■ \ .- ; .; Ma r.^lVii 1 1 41 rtwl (oril .. 

: "The inieatrie. Giiilci inny hnvi heard 
tlint somcbpdy stnirk; gold diSwii: the 
old (pbHcc'O j'O.nd arid ; decided to dig 
up . : ijUlo . diH ; .dovvn. aUmg:'ttie. 
Mi.*f'i.'=!*ippi Delta'to sco hp\'t-.it would 
pan ■ out. A.< a ..•strtrrjng vehicle for 
Miriam Hopkins. 'Biilile: of Angols'i: 
has a' slim chance,, fyrn bri the rpnd, 
despite h.er : splendid potfof iriance 
arid, the- 'sturdy support of We'.-^ley 
Addy iri; a surprisirigly , vi.i ile pbr- 
tt-ayal of a half'wit livirig a .defensive 
life against predatory women. 

iTie- 'pldy Js sordid, Miflth .'little 
comedy relief. . and the -final curtain 
is as amateurish a bit of melodrama' 
as the Giiild has- eVer attemptedi The 
story is. laid In a dingy general stpre 
:in a squalid. Mississippi .town, with 
Miss HopKlris" the. Avork-w/bm wife 
carrying on wrth the store while- her 
hii-sband is slowly dying in the up-, 
siaira bedroom. . She employ* . « 



hiisky, wanderlhg half r Wit to .help 
her ruri the "store, ind is- intrigued 
by his plaint that women; always 'go' : 
for .hlin and .aike ;his mind, off the 
book he plans; to write. Shie, finally 
falls for him, gireatly impressed by 
th.e fact that :he,sl.apped the 'face 'of' 
the village vamp ' when she ;ri)ade 
seductive;advancesi 
■' ; The. final; alct brings action, arid. 
What actibn; The: villagef vamp* -who : 
is the ip-bred daughter: of the -town's 
most; ;prosiperpus bid family, ' Tand.*! 
drunk in the store, ' with; the sheriff 
after : her. to order her oiit 'Of town 
for :: carryirig. ; on ,. with rher-.' N.egi-b; 
chauffeur. 'She again [casts her eye 
on. the half-wit, resulting , in V a battle 
with -the frenzied, storekeeper's wife" 
whb expects a baby; The dying stbre- 
keeper. full of. riiorphinie given hirii 
In: a .deliberate: Overdose by his wile,' 
staggers dbwri the stairs, shoots his 
•wife, goes : out • into the storm, and"; 
after the half-wit and ;;the sheriff's 
posse shoot, it, put for a few. rOiinds; 
the sheriff .tetS .the "building on fire. 

With the dead wife in his-arms. the. 
half-wit cliiribs' the bedroom stairS: 
with the: village variip at his side;, 
trying to:get as close to -hea'veri as the. 
flames arid, smoke. permit. • .r :■ ' 
' . The;cast js nrtairily ^character types, 
riricludihg. a ferhalc religious fanatic 
who believes the :hialfrwit is- a son Of 
Gbd arid . thiis flatters him to the exV; 
terit that 'he has a Casual affair ^ wjlh 
her tb show her what religion can 
really do f Or a. woman, Doris Dudle.v, 
as the : village variip, ; has ' the only 
heavy - supporting role other - than 
.Wesley .Add'v land found it top "mur-h 
for her. ,> There Is' a .Vague back- 
ground of philpsbphy .; arid ' religion 
thinly wovisn into the 'dialog, and'the 
sedbnd . act . is .strongly, "written.- , in 
strikirig : eoTltra'st. to -the; talky first 
.scene and th6\.taWdry. mtlbdrama. of 
the third scbrie. ■;;':■. . ': ■• -■:. 
The - openings night - was -capacity^ 
mainly subscription, and -the tnati- 
riees ma,v be heavy,: as the womcn^ in 
the , aud:ierice ^ seemed to get a ; kick 
out of , the- half-wit's prpbiem of ap- 
i»easirig.predatbpy women. Etfcb^. .' 



Sh^ Had to Say Yiss 

., ; ■ Philadelphia^ .Dec; 30. 

Musical comedy Ih two acts; Produced 
by- Dennis -King; book . .by Bob Henley and 
'.Rlfhtfrd PInkham! ' lyrics ' by . Al , Dubin;. 
mu.slc by - .Samuel .Pulh; dandpi(. and en- 
seniblea- staged by Chiirles. Wallers; hook 
staged.by Wllll.im Miles;- bp.lVefs staged , by 
Raoiil Alba; ■ costt(mes . and scenery -..by 
Stewart ■.Chahey. Denbla King, atarred; 
-Marcy TVotstcbtt. Charles . 'Walters, .'Paiil<v 
.Stone; Helen Raymond. John Ray. ;j:l-..- 
VloU E.<5peb6va, Wally Vernon! fealured. -.At 
Forrest theatre, PhUadeJphIa, .Dec. nO. '40/ 
PrlVQta Homer .Holiday. .-v..; .j;phn Wr.v,. Jr. 
His .Mother. . , . .. . . ... .'Worda Howard 

'Station Master. < . . . . . i Robert ' Williamson. 

Train Hostess -....^d,win!i Coblldgo 

Dabs Anderson,'.;. ;.........;.-.. Paula .Strtne 

Tony- Macl<'(frland;.'.,..i... Charles' -Walters- 
Flrft Red Cap. .Jlmir)y Rnriner. 
Second Red Cap-^ ..,;.;... .' ,Robby Johnson 

.t;- .Spehcer-('Cnndy') Parr...:..WalIy Vernon' 
'Mrs.; Matilda TOjvnsend; . . .Helen Raymond 

,Irln(i . . ; .. ......... .. .Viola- Ktsenova 

Joyce Townscnd.;.. ........ .Mnrcy We.slcnlt 

•Flr.'t. Rppofter. ; i..,'.. .'..'Robert Sidney 

-Second Reporter. .;•»'..■.',... '..Fred Newoomh 
-IPhotographcr. .... . . , . .Kldon . JOnea 

Passerby.'.-. ......t,..; ., . Ichard' Irving' 

Passenger. .'..'.. . ;iAl: Renard 
Announcer: ...;..;....,..- .Ralph Magelssen 

Irving; J^iissbRum. .. . .; . . .... . Joe.Qnkle' 

Chlet Joe Brood Hen Thompson ....... .. 

'Leslie Austen 

Hymle McGlnnia.. ...Richard Rober. 

Uiike; . . . . . . ;; .... .>.«■. ; -iOefjnls King 

Tnxl Dr|vj>'r^.'. ;;-..,,..:...'.-. .Harry Reilayer 
Madame O'Brien. , ,'...';. OH ve Keeves-Smllh 
'Tailor.-..-. . .-...W'yman, Kape 

t)ennig' ,Kirig's , 'She Had to' Say 
Yes,' which is billed as his own show, 
is going to .need, more ; than its 
scheduled two. weeks in Philly tp 
itiake it a reasonable, candidate- for 
Broadway. Yet, the show has plenty 
on the ball and figures for a solid 
chance to ring the bell if the right 
kind. of .work is. :dorie. , , ; 

Most of that work, a'S judged by 
the pteem performance, sboiild b6 in 
restagirig and that, goes ' for book;, 
chorus numbers arid the two spec- 
tacular ballets. They were all staged 
by different people and they don't 
jell as they should. While the doc.tbrs 
are at it they can alsp do plenty with 
the hook, which has some swell ideas 
but gets way but .of hand. Where the 
musical does offer definltb; assets is, 
iri its' Cast, - its ; score and,': perhaps 
most of all. its beautifUl.produCtion. 

Cast ; could; stiand ,sbtne . improve- 
irient but might, reriiairi as is with :re- 
staging %rid direction; King himself 
is defiri'lte , standout, , though ; he 
doesn't; .fcome ph until /latie;, He not 
:orily . Warbles . effectively and gets 
across ;wnacky obmedy.- with plenty 
Qt Bafrymorish ;niuggihg, but de- 
livers two' Bgh.t patter njiiitibers .'sur- 
prisingly well. In most of his Jichter 
scenes ; he . is "paired with . Wally. 
Verrion. .show's, chief comic, who gets 
his polrits.bver •\«:ith effectivie vaiude- 
;-vil'l<> technique.;"- .: ' . . . ~. 
'. Plot, foricerns' 'schemie of a 'pros.s 
ag^rit ( Verhori) ■ to sell : a •wealthy 
..<:ociali te on' promblirig Her beau ti f iil ; 
but bored daughter.'.Trbuble is.mi^nna 
think.^. they are finding a 'hobby' for 
daughiter, .whereas-;pre.ss .agent gbcs 
after a' 'hubby.' • . Work.$ ' thrbtigh 
rhedium bf radio ciampaign; involving 
phone - . Calls, chosen ^ at ; :rn1ldoTri- 
.Among winners are' an;;. .Iridiari,- a 
pliimberi a rookie : : sbldiet and . a 
gangster; Also . King; His part is that 
of a bum.' wh6;has had a .shady life 
arid' goes to fhevsocialite's hornfi but 
;of curibsity; He. is .a'n'uriconveritiohal 
hero; but, not life* 'Joe.v'. the, hieel, be- 
oau.se -he fights marrying' coin. It i.s 
the girl who finally force."! the is.'ue, 

Mhrcy We.scott is charming 'ds jlhc 
hefoine and -both .sines and ,!>ct.<i hor 
.sQene.s v;ith King well, including the 
btidi-o.om enisodc in which .she does 
a quick , strip ta comproinlse him. 



Charlies Walters is a pleasant jiivenile; 
whose owri dancing is betler'thari.the 
ensembles he. staged. Pau!a . Stone 
overrstrairis - in the ingehuP : pairti 
which 'has a couple of good nunibers,; 
jphh Wray,' Jr., does;a nice job as the 
bewildered, robkle. candidate,: but the 
other three aire silly,, both iri writing 
:and 'acting...'' 

Sariimy Fain has; done: a score that 
will be' heard .from 'plenty, though 
several nuiribprs ; arc hoi put across 

ras they should be. 'The ^ Girl Who. 

' Works in a Lauridry,' IBetween Ro- 
mances' arid 'StrangPr. in : the'Mi.rrbr' 
rate ~ on ^ serious side, 'arid ?C)Ur 
Memoirs,' "'Merrily. ..on . My Way,' 
'Serenade tb :.a Chainberma'idl • and 

,'Ne-ver.-Take. No; for An . Answer's are; 
tops on the' lighter, side. Right iiow 
there is too; njiwh music in the .show; 
Al. iJubin's lyrics arP ifi'rst-rate arid 
Often: plenty blue:.-. ' .. 

^Gorgeous and highly 'artistic full- 
stage sets .are. wasted . through bad' 
staging, same for very tasteful ariid 
colofcful' costuming. 'That is the main 
trouble with the shqw-^it has material 
but muffs lti A number of spercialtles 
help. ; especially in .second: act. with 
the "Three 'Trojans,- J'immy Baririer 
an,d.' . Bobby Johnsort arid ;the ballet 
ratirig. bows. ;'Vernon arid King do a 
cOrkirig strip tease parbidy, with King 
far .inpfe subtle.. When .second act 
mishaps, happened at opening here, 
King adopted an informal hote, re- 
questied several huyiberS to be started, 
over and applauded his own people. 

'': i^oXni. ■ 



Ork^ "^^ The Heat^ 

■'. .-: ■ ': Bbstbhi ^bec,. ;26i 

; 'Revue ln-.two;'acts, 2T si'e.nes, presented 
b.ir -Kurt Knsznar.'-at Shubert, Yloston,. 'Ueo. 
as, -'-to, oo-starrlnp" WJIIIe, lioward , and' 
r^uella Ge'ar. Featiire.i" Oi;a('le ,Barr1e,- 
-Rlchord Kbilmar, .r.ulin; 'Rostova, - Hblln-jse 
Sha\Yi - Ca.oppr- - Reardon. - Music ' by - Im-ln- 
GriilDim, ' William Pi-o'vost.' .Hiidl Hevll, '. 
'.Wiilter Nones, ^ Darfa' Siies^o;' l.vrlos. . by 
Tnvln Grshiim,- -Kurt' Kaszrinr. —'I'ele. .Kite 
.Srhllh, WftUer -N.ones'.. ..r'l'Hi ; Kent; liUther' 
Davis, Maurice. Vandiilri' John; f.livetand. 
Kay -Kenney. . M\i.s1ciil ..nrritllitcmPlK'i and 
brrliestratldnS by Juctiiies ■Diillln;- viiciil. ar- 
rangemehts bv Pete Klmr,'; fSketrhes- 'staged' 
by Arthur. 'jSheek'man; Willie. Ilbwnrd. Kklls 
illricted .' by ' Tlug'ene Howii'td;- -additional 
dialog by -.Arthur . St'andeb. hiid; Sidney 
.Zfllhka, .' Choreography .by -Catherlrio J/ll-- 
fle/leid, assisted: by .Ted Gary; acenery and; 
lighting by Albert JoluiMop-; .cnstumcs;-hy 
Lester Poliiko.v and Maria- KuML-ins,- Mii- 
slcal- director. ' Harold .Tjevcy.' -Kntlre pro- 
duction supervised by Kurt Ka.«inw. 
. Crtst': Betty ;kean, Bobhv T/ane and Brtnn 
Ward. Ted Gary. Harriet ridrk, Ttiro 
DeSlerra. . '. Hlldegarde .- - UiiUinay.' Bobby 
Rusch. .' Harold Gary, Dnvld ' RolJIhs. Pniil 
Bartels. .Raymond. Burr, WlUl.im -Jlowell, 
Philip King.. The Coronets (4). Frapk Cuck-. 
sey. .SIapIetOn:K«nt, Wlllliim Mols.iffl, Fred- 
erick Mannatt, Al Kelly, Eildle;Eddy. Peter 
.Ga;rey, Thomas' Mitchell. Raymond - Burr,' 
Jane Hoffman, Vlvlennfl- Allen, ^ .Wllma- 
Horher, ish'ow glrla.(8), dancing chorus (W)'. 



sets are likewise one of the revue'i 
real assets. : '■' 

:Best tunes are- :'Twlst of the, 
Wris'.,' •Wine:frorii My Slibperl' ''iTou 
"Should Be Set. to Miisic. 'Time .of 
Ybur ;Life' and '"Very Terrific;' Rich- 
ard Kollmar; anji .Gradie- Barfie; are 
both charming and effective in. the 
song-sellihg.; department. .- Hollace 
Shaw . is another pretty end well-;; 
trained vocalist> hut •she does riot 
project , eripugh. : :v . ' • 
- Betty ' Kean, - eccentric .';i^ancer arid 
comedierine, cOmeis tlose to .ste,nling 
tile show, gaining . riiore / a nd more; 
recognitiph as the ■ evening prOr 
■gresses .iintil she ; Stoias eyerythihg ■ 
with a swell specialty late jnthP sec. 
prid'act;, Ted. Gary, another eccentiric. 
.dartcer< iis - featured iri; se veVa^l . pi^-^ 
eduction nuriibers ; arid once; on hiis," 
bwn,.-clickirig. ieverV.-Umc;^ - . ' -, : . 

Shocker of the e'v.crijni; ; is. a' su'?; 
perb . acrbbatib dance : specialty : .irt 
fast tfcmpb by. Lane arid Ward, a, boy 
arid girl who go through amazing- 
.rhythmic .tricks.- •>.. 

Casper ;,Reardori; ; swing?, harpist, 
appears twice, first assisted by' Liiba. ; 
Rostoya's interpretative ballet accprii- 
paniihent, arid later as a soloist.; It's . 
;a goodi novelty, but '.either Reatdpri^s 
pl'ayirig Or . the ; arrangements.^ iised 
here- lacks: the spark tp rrtake him; a- 
-sockb' turn;.: Special nod .gPe.s ■ to; 
•Hildcgafde Halliday;. clever comedlr.; 
enne, who' is ; lost, after, her.:; Irilitial . 
scene as, a .g'arrulbiis rriahicurist and 
is . worthy of more material. Bobby V 
Busch also rates mention for: 
straightrtrouping,. and. Harold Gary "; 
fOr,a nitty double-talk bit.; . • . 

Harold Levey, . musical directory ' 
although leading a: pit band that had 
insiifficieint rehearsing, irispired therii. 
to deliver an ppenirig night peritorm^ 
anpe thiat must have cheered up ini^ 
measurably the hard-wOrkirig .singers 
and dancers.- . : . ., Fox. ■ ; 



This - Is Willie ' Howard's best ve- 
hicle. Iri years: the production is im- 
pressively, elaborate; : the riiusic 
(BMI) is okay, but riot terrific; there 
are , some good skits arid better 
dancing, but. thei-e was. enough on. 
thei.debit side opening, night to indir 
cate; that th«- producing • start will 
have to work hard tb make 'Crazy 
with the Heat' a hit prospect. ■ Luella 
Gear; Is enjoyable as ; co-star ;. with 
Howard, but: she has ;been short- 
ended on comedy ■ material. The 
skits average up to a better calibre 
than those of several recent revues, 
but the good ones' are mostly, too 
long and riiany a 'punch line. Is anti- 
climactic, • • . ;■ 

Generally, the . first act was rcr 
ceived apathetically here, hiit the 
second stanza has the stuff that 
should, giv(B hope to the producer, 

For example, the ]a.st half offers- 
Williei Howard, as a temperamental 
ballet .star, again as a 'Mr. Anthony' 
of radio,, and finally in a solO; spe- 
cialty , which has him corning up a 
burlesque of the village blacksmith 
that reminds one oiT Bert Lahr's 
nifty. W o o d .s m a n impersonation/ 
Luella .'Giear's best specialty comes 
in this same act, a haughty sorig 
about 'I .Can .Only" Be Got on a 
.Yaoht,' with an intriguing lyric. Two 
of the . ace, production numbers arc 
also routined late in the .show, -which ; 
broke at 11:45. Thie.se arc !Twist of 
the Wrist,' .with a magic and Sven^ 
gali -theme, and 'WJhefrbrii My Slip- 
per,' ifeaturing a seduction ; ballet 
'fLuba ;Rostpva and; Phil King) on a. 
cduch. ■-.-■'■; .-,' = : ■ - 

Willie Howard's pthef best het Is 
a dizzy, scene with Wilma Hof ner in 
the fli*Kt act. OHoWard. as a btllcher 
boy, tries tp cbllent" 30c. for a lamb 
chop, from a', crazy wprr\ari who has. 
him playing an . .Imaginary piario; 
greeting invisible iritrudiers, ; etcj 
This one Js. far too long- biit^ furida- 
rheritally .right; r 'The comic never; 
lets down a; .scene and ; turns in. a 
comftiehdable job bf trbtiping all thie.; 
'Way./.' '< . ■". :'.;;; ; . - ;'' :•. 

'. "The same goes for Miss: Gear, .Shfr: 
gets 'a ..break and makes the mp.s't of 
it as a Mr.s. Giissie:;Cobk.sey; chatter-; 
;irig: in , so.ng. about !Siily of Miliy* 
while being yisit^d in a giant -bed 
b.v' an assortment of .peoole who Were 
at the party where Milly wras silly. 
As ; annoiincer fpr Howard's ballet; 
burlesque, and as. a deterniiin^d 
dowager trying to impress an /agent 
with her a.s.sorted.-talcrits fincltidirig 
stripese). Miss Gear heljpS: things 
.along.: .•-'■..'■'.- ' .w ' ■• - ■ 
. JMost bf the prbdUctipri .spectacle is 
in the flrst act; including a pij^turr. 
esqiiei dream Idea ba.scd .oh; a lament 
fbr Paris; ^ari interesting . ..dancing, 
humbor Involving a zbo background, 
arid the, ;;irtevi table flr.striiCt . flinalc- 
with Lati -Ainerican;dancing fervbr. 
The costumes; of Lester Polakoy and 
Maria Humans are very colorful and 
lii good taste; and Albert J^ohrisoii'i 



Playi on B'way 




iCorttiiiued.frpin page 44 



with, th.ie first 'LIttfe Show!; and first. 
'Americana'.';.;.--—:.'' 

Originally ;thIS'sho.w Wias virtually 
conceived in desperation on the 
Cbast by . talent that couIdn!t crash 
the studios. ' A. group . called the 
Theatre Alliance banded together 
and out of it Came 'Meet the People,', 
which opened Xmas night, one year 
from the day " of the ; N. Y. preem, 
at the tiny- Theatre- AUiaricte Play- 
house in Hollywood. About' five 
weeks later, aftei: registering critical 
raves, it mbved to, the larger Holly- - 
wood PlayhOiise, regular legit stand. 
Where the show went Equity arid the 
performers were raised from $25 
weekly each fb $40, arid the cast was 
augmented to 24 people from 18. 
Now the' cast total is ^S. arid pos-, 
sibly the salaries ;also aire higher, 
but, I'egardless of the Coin they are 
getting now, , some oi them may: b9, 
able to write; their own- tickets later. 
One boy, especially, looks like the 
answer, to arty- musical producer'* 
prayer. He's Jack Williams, a talj, 
gbod-lookihg kid Who is an excellent 
dancer, can handle lines, and sings 
as well. ■■;■ . -'■'; :-.■; 

To record the show's - standoiits 
would mean reprising virtually the 
entire cast rosten An idea of the 
•talent, can be gleaned from the fact 
that thp performance wa.s. almost a 
succession of shoWstops at the preem. 
• The top smashe.? are .scored by 
Williams, Jack Gilford, the miriiic 
arid only face familiar to New York 
from his vaude and nitefy work. 
Gilford's ; material, however, .is hot 
familiar to the east, ribtably his im- 
pression; of a picture; fan and his 
enactment of a Milt Gro.ss bit oh 
'how movies are madei,^ both "comedy 
gems. Other top clicks are Elizabeth 
'Talbot-Martin, a mimic 6t notiables; 
Nanette Fabares,. Whose attempit to 
siriR a. Guiseppe. Verdi cbmpositipn. 
with hoofing breaks is a sock laugh; 
Barney Phillip.s, who scores in a 
.socially significant song-sketch, based 
on the Bill bf Rights; £ddic Johnson 
arid- Jack Albertion iri. a takeoff oh 
ari old sbng-darice teaim; delivering 
the craekling !game Old: South,' com- 
posed by Jay Gbrney with lyrics by. 
Edward Eliscii; Marion Cblby, dead- 
pan 'blues singer and the show's out^ 
standing ;lob.ket Jo.<ephine pel - Mary 
a . torrid .conga iriterpiPtbr, ', and 
Dopdles Weayerj a zariey cbrriJc. 

Several writers are credited with 
the: ■ .sketches^ . incliidin'g . 'Milt G rbssi 
A'rthur Ross, Ben; and Sol Barzriian, 
Sid Kiiller ;arid' Raiy .Goldeni Mbr. 
timer Offner and Henry Myers, Mike. 
Qirin, Henry; Blankfbrt -arid Bert 
Lawrence, , Blankfbrt ; aind • Danrt^^ 
Dare, and Offrier arid Eliscu, Nearly 
all of the bits are swell, arid. Henry 
Myers .and Jay- Gorriey: ratp bends 
especially for the charhiiirig.'jWeet th^ 
Pebple'; opening, which has the east 
going doWn the aisles 'and shakinist 
hands with the ciostbriiers, :, 

. Oif the brigiifel coast' iiast,;.only 12 
1^0 w remairi. Those- missing were 
gobbled ujj by either "pictures or leigit, 
or both; including Virginia : O'Briehi 
the show's oiriginar <lead-pain singer 
whp Went Into: 'Keep Off the Grasis,* 
arid Bill Orr„ who was last seen tour- 
ing with Lpuella', Parsons, ;The re- 
placeriients, presumably are fiilly as 
good as the originals, perhaps better, 
■playing, very smbbthly after the long 
riin on the Coast and Frisco and 
Chicago ..stands.;; ,: ,;:.-' 

., Danny ;; Dare's - pacing rates • 
special bow, even though the mater- 
ial, arid talent are -virtually fool- 
proof. . Arid getting back to th* 
talent, Broadway : should hold this 
Coast biihch ior ti lini^ time. Scho. 



46 



Wednesclay V . January 1 , 1 941 



OBlTUARiES 



dAni^l fhohman 

Danifel Fiohmaii;. 89, died ia New 

YorkJThiirsday, (26).'^^^^.,: 
Details, in legit sectiorii . . 



iEENEST liAWFOEB 
Ernest LaWfprd, 70, veteran Erig-^ 
lish character actbr and father of ac- 
tress Betty. Lawford, died .Dec. .,27 
after va Ibrig. illrtiss at. the. Harlcness 
Pavilion ;^£»f they Golumbia-Pfesby- 
teriain Medical Gentiit, N. Y. He enr 
tiered the institution 18 months, ago, 
ihbrtly after 'the; Brown , Danube', 
his last .p.layi ' closed, v 

Lawford studied for a career in 
law and: occasionally, indalged ..iii 
amateur :theatrical appearances, 
Blaiclretbnfe becbmihjsf : .dry and the 
theatre bieing . more to his. taste, . be 
joined a traveling British stock com- 
pany which served , as: a: jUmRirigrofl 
place to the beher known companies 
of sir Ben Gr6et and Sir Frank Beh- 

Lawford made his London debut as 
Le Beau with Lily Langtry in 'As 
You Like If at the St, James in 1890. 
Thereafter, h.e. apptiared ' in . 'The 
|>ris0ner. of' .Zeiida'. and 'Whien: ■ We. 
Were Twerity-Ohe'. The star of the. 
latter, MaJcirie , EJUiptt', interested 
Clyde Fitch In Lawford and it was 
largely through the. pliay wright!s. efr 
Ibrts that' the- actor Came to the 
United iStates in 1903. 

tJppn his arrtyal in America Lawr- 
lord became. more or less a fixture oh 
Broadway'. For i4 yearis he appieared 
in' Charles Frohman's . productions, 
Some included 'Quality Street', 'Pe- 
ter Paii' arid 'L'Aiglon\ \ Hfe also 
trouped in Gilbert, and jSulllvan 
^omic opera. In recent years he had 
Piarts in 'Mary of Scotland', 'The 
Late Ghristopher . Bean*, "Tovarich* 
and 'Accent on Youth'. A couple of 
seasons agO: he played the part of 
'Bill S^iakespeare' In 'Tliie Fabulous 
Invalid'. . 

Funeral services were held Sunday 

i29) at the Little Ghurch Around the 
!orner, N, Y. About 100 persons at- 
tended. Honorary pallbearers . were 
Balph M6r£an, John Devereaux, 
Lipster . Chambers, A. O. Brown, 
Percy Moore; Frank Case, Alfred 
Kappeler, John. Prescoft and Sam 
Forrest. The hody was cremated.. 
Also surviving are his divorced wife, 
Janet Slater Lawford, and a son, 
Edward. 



Women's Hebrew Associatibri- of the 
Bronx; N. Y., died Dec. 25. from an 
■ internal hemorrhage at the Brpok- 
" Tyn (N. Y.) Jewish Hospital. . ', 
As. director of dramatics for .the 
association, . GrpSs. cohducted the 
Thaliaris alo.ng> the lines of the 
Thbatre Guild, .tinder his , -tutelage 
technical worTcers were developed 
for the stajge.as .well as;aidini pi^oin- 
ising' actors. . Playwright Moss Hart;' 
Edward'., Eliscu, -Paramount- script 
writer; aiid- John Brown; a radiP 
actpr, among otheris,. received their 
early theatrical training. . . frorii.. the 
.iihaliaris. ■ '. ' /■ ■ 

Surviving ■ arie his . widbw^ Betty, 



Corp., Terre: Haiiter Ind,, and for- 
merly with the United States Cham- 
ber ■ of . Commerce ; in 'Washington, 
died at his home in JacksphvilDe,. !!!. 
He was a former resident and pro- 
mpter of civic enterprises in Terre 
Haute. ; Surviving are his widow, a 
spri and one brother.. : . 



MARaBUBETA BURNS 

. Marghur^ta Burns, 35,; ' former 
vaudeville iinger, died froiii a. bullet 
wound,, selfrinflidted, {in Des Moines, 
Dec. .23,' Shie waS divorced the pre- 
vious Saturday- (21 ) from Joe Burns, 
stage: clectriciaii, to whom she , had 
been married ',18 years',' ,. 

Survived, by mother;: two brothers 
and- '. -sister.-.- 



sContlnued from page 40^ 



BALPii MADDISON .1- 



Ralph Maddison, ' 59; known as 
, . . .. . . . , 'The Singitig Miner,? a-heavyweight 

and an ..Infant , daughter. ^ ^un.eia , ^^^^^ ■ ^^^^ motion picture : 



services were held- Thursday (26) 
in::Brppklyn: 



DELLA;NiyEN ;■ ' 
Ddla Niveri, reti ried ' opera . • and 
rhusical cprne.dy ; slngier . who . at' One : 
tiine' poss.essecl a .repertoiire Of more 
than 60 operas, died In Detroit Dec, 
li after a brief illness. Since leaving 
the stage in 1916 Miss Niven was 
active ;as a teabher of voice, ^in .Der 
trpifc';-, ■.-■': ■.; 
, Attendirig cbhservatories in Ber- 
lin . and Dresden, ■■ she . iater\studied 
under Mnie, . Mathilda .Marches! in. 
Paris. . 'Returnlhg: .to the -United 
States, she siinig .'odhtralto to -rol^s 
With, the Henry W. .iSayage- Company, 
the M.etrppplitan Cjpera arid . the 
Castle Square. Opera,; 

A cOnteml>0rary of Llilian, Russellj' 
Miss • Niy~en bore, a Striking resem-. 
blance tip the,stEir.; Ambng the musi- 
cals in which she appeared were 
'Erminie,"Half a King' and ;Girl .of 
My Dreams.' She also had ° roles in 
'The Three Twins,' 'Doctor de Luxe*-, 
and "The Marriage of.; Kitty.' 
; Two jsistera survive. 



theatre presentatiojis iri. the U, S. 
arid Canadia, starting with . the silehts 
and cbntinuirig into sound, died- in 
Springhill,..Npva Scotia, after alyeir's 
iUnesS/ He h8d ;b^en-a patient in; a; 
loca'r.hpspitail-fpr ai.y.ear., . \ 
. Surviving is; a. »n;- - , . -. • 



STANLEY KATE 

. Stanley: Kaye, 35, head of . a local; 
adyertisirig'agencjr bearing his nanie, 
vvas killed dhristirias day in a. mptbir; 
aOCident at Cilevieland, . ' 
: As the Ipcal; rep ioti the I. J.; Fox 
accoiintj Kaye . had 'prograriis on 

'whk;. 



' LYdIA HAItBIS 

Xyditk Harris, 42,-t4i^. private life 
:Mrs. Frank DoHiav' One - pf .th(B::best 
known, bf ChicagO singers, .died in 
Chicago on Dec. 24 of .complications 
fbllowirig an appendectomy. 
: Widbwei:, .andv daughter . survive. 
'Burial iri ScraritOri; Pa. - 



StB HUGH DENISON 

Sir Hugh Denison, 75^ head of As- 
sociated Newspapers, Australia, died 
in Mellbourne recently after a short 
Illness;. 

Apairt from powerful newspaper 
Iriteresjts, knight held a .high spot in 
.comriijefcial radio viai the Macquarie 
NetWork, and was also interested in 
legit . through an association with 
Australian-New Zealand ; Theatres 
prior to its re-takeover by William- 
sori-Tait. " - ■ 

- Some years ago^ Denison went into 
Australian film production field, via 
National Studios, his first importa< 
tipri being Charles Parrell fpr 'The 
Flying Doctor,' -with Margaret Vyr 
her anid Mary. Maguire. This one 
proved a very costly flop, and. pro- 
duction activities lagged for a long 
span, Denison and his associates 
. worked hard on the government to 
.bring in. legislation to iaid the local 
field, finally beirii; successful in hav 
king a compulsory quota of 3% conie 
Ijihto operation. 

In 1010, DjeniSon bought the Syd 
.Hey Starj which later became kribwn 
as the Siuiii, It?s the . principal evitr 
ning paper in this zone. He; is sur- 
viviid by widow arid three'sbris. 



AGNES AYBES 

Agriies.Ayres, 42, star of silent pic- 
tures, died Dec. : 25 in Hollywood 
after aii illness of seve.ral .weeks. 
Best remembered for her role op- 
posite Rudblph. Valentino in 'The 
sheik,' ' deceased was one of the 
screen's outstanding pl^ayers before 
the advent of talkers. Among the 
films in which she sta.rred were 'The 
Ten Conmiandments,' . 'Forbidden 
Fruit,' 'Son ; of the ; Sheik,' The 
Donovan Affair,' 'Th6 Lady of .Vic- 
tory,' .'Broken ;Hearted' and 'Bye, 
Bye, Buddy;' 

An attempted comeback several 
years ago . resultied only in minor 
roles. Surviving is her daughter, 
Maria- Reach!, 15, now Uyirig with 
her father, S, Manuel Reachi, film 
producer, frorii whont . Miss Ayires 
was divorced in' 1927. 



. PAUL B. GALLAGHEB 

Paul R. Gallagher, 46, veteran 
showboat perforriier, died in Easton, 
Md.,. Dec. 25 after a: stroke, 
; Born iri Marshall, 111., he had been 
a resident of /Easton for the. past 
three years after retiring frorii ' the 
theatre. 



II. ■» 

i; 



i 



Walter. ::Yonrieguti* 56, formerly 
manager,- of; tlje' .Stiiart Wallter Stock 
Co., Louisville,^ ahd: later an actor iri 
many New , York prpductibns, died 
bee. 23 at his home in Ciilyer, Ind. 

Vorinegut's last :"leirit appearance 
was in" the Kaufman-Hart play,' 'You 
Can't Take , It . With You.'. ■ JHis • last 
Louisville. .; appeararice : was : in 
'Strange Interlude' in which he ialsb 
played on Broadway. He had roles 
in 'Moiifhing; Becomes Elefctra,' 
. '•Granid -Hotel,' , 'Petrified Forest' and 
'Pbstmani Always Ririgs. Twice?,; He 
was born; in . lndjianapp.lis .and was. 
educated, in .Europe as a rcpncert. 
.pianist before hie 'turned to the stage, 
. .Furieral services were held Thursii 
day (26> In.'IndiariapOlisi Suryiving 
in addltiori to Mrs. W. .K.- Stewart, 
his- sister, a resideri:t of - Louisville, 
are his socond :;Wif e, Rosalie, two 
children . Arid a h' btheri , • . 



GE0B;GE B. ten l^YCK 
George B, Ten : Eyck, active iri 
Trenton's riiotion picture .field foi: 
more thaii 25 years, died at his "Tren- 
ton, N.^J., horiie Christmas JDay fol- 
lowing a heart attack suffered earlier 
in the day. 

Although only 48 at the time of: 
death. Ten. Eyck Operated five Tren- 
ton film houses before ha was 25, in 
the early '2bs he biiilt the (laiety. 
theatre, at that time one of the city's 
most elaborate playhouses. . . 
. Funeral services held Saturday 
afternoon (28). . Survived by wido\y, 
Marion; his . father, Wallace, and a 
sister, Mrs, Paul-. Heririchsen, of Sus- 
sex, England. - 



HABBT SHUNK . 

; Harry . Shunk, 79, Cardington, O., 
formerly with the Al G Field .miri- 
streL shows, died Dec. 24 after .a 
heart, attack. He toured with the 
Field shows; from 1918. to 1924. 
Widow and a- half brother survived 



Hotel - 7tb .Avianue' 
Baaa. ^dtlnder'ii' 
l.ila lolk : 
Everett llardh -' 
Betty .Doimlioa '. 
Shirley Mell«r 
Al pb-ylh;. 

' JEiverirrMh Cia.i'deiit. 

.Red^crnrlce 6ro .■ .'; 
Ufaible Schftub 
Paula Hni'vey 

"" trotel KiiB ; • 

Olcrn. Kriindy Oro ■ ■ • 
Uale St Cl#lc: .r 
Zbida; . 

Hotel iHtooiieVeit; 

lfIdroId'\Aioroa 
Ito^'al 'Ilawuliuni^ .. 

Hotel ;'8ch'ebicr '■ 
Billy Hinds Ore 
Pally piion;-..-- 
Uut't Mayer-' 
Hotel Wm; Penn 
(Chatterbox) 

tahK Thompson ' Or 
Petrsy Movan - 
ifoo Marlln -; 
Pete Foster. 
.Chuck- Baton- 

(Cuhtlnentnl- ilnr)- 

.Frank.-Andrrnl'.i; 

Meri'f;rCo-.li6uiid - 

Al Fremont Ore 
Pattl Jean 
Dean .Sayi e 

New Penn 
Juiie - Qanlner. Ore 
J Sl B IthiK 
X>(yi '&■ Coiorcs ; 
Herb Harrington -.. 

^. 'Klxpn- Cate . 
Al - Marlfiro . .Oro -, 
B.ob tarter- ■ 
Woods & Bray 
Betty Lane . 



Ar OeLage. CO: ' 
Recketa . 
-\ "Nut .-.Hoiiae . 
Dale Harkheaa 
iiay Neville - . 
Ted iJlake. • 
Joey Reynblda ' - 
CJiuck Ayils.tfn: ; 

'PimIb'. - 

TiOule Poi>e,Oro 
MarS'lja Krabcr ' 

"^VOrcliard , 
.timihy-. Qambla Ore 
jny I,,brln(t - 
ChUc^'Mlllej-.;. 

Jack Kennedy" Oro ;• 
Tony Ito'zonte: ■-. 
Itay £nKlert. 

' Riviera 
Marty iSchramtn-- Or 
Freda, £.azedr 

. ^V^!ht Club ; ; 
Billy adtlzohb Oro 
IMii & Xee - 
-Yaclitsnieh- . - - 
Betty. Nylander .' 
3, ir.eat Wiivvs ..- 
B ; Yoeihenettea. ■■■ 

'■ -. Sfcy-rVue.: •'' - 
Johnny' Mar'CI'h O.rc 
I.aur.a Greeg ■ " ' 
Alberta- 'Carts 

Villon Grill 

Art YaKollo 
Frank Nntnle . 
Mlho' .Snndretto -. 
. ;;VIlia ModrW ' - 

iBtzl-Cotatd Ore. . 
A^h.^Boland . 
>lark : Ld.ne . - 
Pel Grtoy 3 
Betty.. Benson:- ; 
Brush Twlhii ;. 
■Dewey ;M6on. '. 



Kay, Katya & Kay 
Tell S(s 
Joan '. Woods 
Jedn Bi.anclie : . 
'Gerqldliie RoHS -; - 
Charles .Whiltler 
Merrlel Abbott QIs 

' - lutiia ..Quarter' .. 

Joe 'CanduUo Qrc .' - 
Lollt'a . Cordriba Ore 
Jack- Cole Da no .; 
Flnvll.Boreo ' > ■- 
Griuh'ix &- .Brona' ' ■■ 
Henri . The'rrleu . ' 
I,eld Moore . , 
Frank ...Mazzbne. 
Yvdnne -Douvleir. -. 



DETKOIT 



WILLIAM DTE 

Will.ia™;Dye, 27,'sports announcer 
arid Advertising agency, dxecutiye, 
was killed Christmas day in a Cleve- 
land automobile acciderit. He broad- 
cast for Duquesrie. Beet on 'WTAM. 
Cleveland.' 



; , pittLIP GBQSS ; 
Philip :Gross, 43, founder oif the 
Thaliaris, a little - theatre group; 
which for 22 years has beeh a dlvi- 
sidn of tht Young Men's and Young 



■ " ' , -MAUBICE ■ AKST^ ' . ^ ; . - '■ 
Maurice Ak^t, 68, father of' sorig- 
writer Harry Aidt, and fOr six years 
a member of the Roxy '(N. YJ thear 
trie: oreshestra, . died Dec. 26 : at his 
home in Frieepprt, 'L^. L M^ 
ceritly he had. tie'en anv instriictbr- ipf 
violin,; viola and pilano. 

Bprri Aji PplaridI Akst was a mem- 
ber '. Of the . Kiisslan . Symphony Or- 
chestra liefore. Goniirig' to the United 
States. : He played first . violiri! at the 
ilpxy, from 1929. ttj 1935.; and for a 
time, was with Rudy Vallee's band. 
' Also " surviving are- his. ' widoW, 
Bertha;, ariother - son, -Albert, anti a 
daughter, Mrs. Theresa. Felson, - of 
Montreal. \ \ 



; -, WALTfR :CAMP,: JE.. ,. . 

Walter; Canip; Jr^,'- 49, ;-who -was 
forced into inactivity by illness since 
retiring ' as president of. Inspiration 
pictures five years ago, 4iied in Lps 
Angeles . yesterday (Tuesday-): ; ; 

A sportsman arid; prpminerit pOlo 
player, lie was an original director 
Of :■ Madison Square G/irderi. ; His 
father, Walter, Sr., known as tlie 
'Father of Football/, orirginjated the; 
practice of . Selectirig . AU-America 
football teanis. . ;. 



'^';, porter; 'It.'-LEACH^- 
. Porter - R. ;lieach, 54, eixecutlve ;pf 
the Consolidated Realty and Theatires 



FBED DICE 

Fred Dice, 70, who originated and 
operated Ocean Park Casino and 
pthef beach enterprises outside I^os 
Angeles, died in Santa Mpnica, CaU 
Dec; 27. ' 



Book-Cadlllac Hotel 
(Book . Casino) 

Chesftey & Worth-' ■ 
Buftlns • 

Buddy -Huehea - 
Bobby Belinpnt 
U .Caslnot^S' - 
liebiiard Keller Ore 

■ < 

- (Motor Bar) " 

Dick ..-Rock" 

BoMf'eiT -. 
oSally Rand Co ' (SB) 
'Star-^.atud.ded- ReV 
Johnny King 
Chas Carli«'le. 
Benny - Res)) 'On 

Blue Laidteiin . ; 

Kelene. ■ 

Hal ft M Raymond' 
Bert -Nolan . ■ 
T.B Compraslta 
Olamour Ola (6) - 
Lis .-Walters. Oro 

CorktOWB Tavara 

Hal Brbnsoit 
Ellen Kaye - 
»■ Veaters ^ 
Bddle Brattdn Oro*' 
(■ole * Corto ' 
Neville ft Day 
Ann Lee 
Don Andre Oro 
- Couiinbdore 
Jerry Bergen • 
Dick -WorthliiKton ' 
Don & Bctte I,ynne 
M Kretlow T.lne (li) 
Vera. Wlrlvllle Ore 
inand's. r 
3 Old - Timers . 
Sun Valley' 
Serenaders ; 
I.«iido'n Chop llooae 

Ton la Val e'rill , 
Ruby Oi-e 

Mprocro 

Jay Jaaon ■ . 
Ethel Shepherd 
Avon Sis • 
Del earlier 



John J. Sheehan, Sr., drummeir at 
Prpctor's theatre and the old Rarid 
Opera House, -Troy, N. Y,, and for a 
time trustee of the TrOy m.iisic unipri 
(AFM), died at his home in Troy last: 
week after a long illness. 



Mrs. John Maney, "76, mother of 
Richard Maney, legit press agent, 
died Dec. 28 at ;hier ;home in Okano- 
igan, Wash. Daiighter also suryives. 
M aney ; planed to the. Coast Moriday 
(3.0). to attentj the :furieral. 



George C. Buchmari, 60, .operator 
of one of Ohio's first motion picture 
theatres, ;'died /Dec. 28 -in ' D.elaw;are, 
O, ; Prior to ; his ;■ retirement ;' from 
theatre business he. bWned the;Star 
in-'i)elaware;;;- • ~ '•■■;'■ 



AmuL ;S; , Kalnianri, ,69, wife. of Ste 
pheri . A. VKaimanni fo'urider and re.<: 
tired- head of ii chalii q( St, Louis 
ri^bes;bearirigihis name, died of heart 
ailment at her .hpme last week. 



. Sydney B. (Cy) Perkins, 60,; Prie pf 
the Oldest menibers' of the stagehands 
local 27, idieti Dec. 27 at' his home iri 
(ilevelarid, pi^ .a five weeic ill- 

;ness.."'-' ;.'■'' 



-Don Beilly, . 30, manager of War- 
ners' State in Lima,; Oi( was killed in 
an auto accidierit Dec. 24;-while . driy- 
trig to! his ^home in Loraine, ~ O, 



Philip Doerfer,. 86, who. opeirated a 
dancehall at ; Mlddlefleld, .0.; for 20 
years, before ho retired, dietl Dec^ 22. 



!. William S. brgaii; 37,' Sharon, Pa,, 
trap drummer with the Cays dance 
orchestra, died Dec. 22. . 



will Henderson- ;orc 

Ne.l>lolo> . 

DI-.^Glovanhl- .^ - 
Carmen;' - '. 

Carlos & Chltft 
'Guy Glbby- 
Leonard. Seel pro' 

Northwbod- Into : , 

t- Guardsmen. 
Japk Spot 
Joe & ]3etty Lee 
Ray Gorlln.;Oro.' ; 

Palni ' Bf uicli /- 
Eddie 'Jardoh ^ 
Arniand. & Diana. 
Saiiny Daniels 
« Tip-Top Dane.: 
Michael. PalEo-'.Qre - 

Hock's Kedrord- lnn 

Mae; McQraw. Ore 

. Club -Royiile - : - 
■Vic Hyde . 
Rita '& Ed Oehma'n- 
Wllfred Dubold " 
Alargery Daye . 
Bernard Ddnar , 
Roy Tracy . ' 
Danny Denietry -Ore 
Royalettes ; 

Statllsr notel 

B; Madrlttuera.Oro- . 
Patricia' Gllmdr*;; 
Georj^e .Nesrette . - 
: Sfin .Oleso , 
Georce Prednell ' 
Al Alexander. Ore ' 
Dan Merryman 
Don -Francisco 
Starr & Maxina 

'Verne's 

Boyd Scnter . 
Charles & R Jenkins 
Wonff^ 

Donna -' Mallne 
.Harry Collet Ore 

Wlilttier Hotrl' . 
. (flold' Cup Room) 
Tony Pattl . 

Wondiar Bar 
Sammy. Dlbert Oro 
Pauline Balew 



CLEVELftin) 



Alpine VlllBB* . 

Bernlce &- Parks 
Bob Copfer 
Carl Mueller. 
Otto- Thurn Ore. 

Freddie's Ca fa 

Art Lackey- .Orc- 
Al Schenck 
Roy Rdysor '■ 
Har Simpson 

; - Gonrmet Club . -. 

E , Robinson Qro 
Bill' Locknian 

H(it«i -Aiierton. 

Karen TOrey - 
Loiila. dina 
Jack 'MIk'o . 

Hotel ' Carter 

Veraatillana- • '- 
Bob- .Opitz- .. 

; -Hotel ' cievetaiid- ' 

Pa ill ■Pcnaarvj!i -;:6rc 
.Marea'r'e.t English 

Hotel Fitnway Hall 

Gene. Brwl.n Qro .; 

. ' Hotel SterllDK 

; Jimmy Van Oadeti; 



Quthter'os 
Lester Chafetz 

Hotel Hollenden 

Sylvia ' Frooa- ■ 
Paul Ronlnl '■. 
Georges ft JoA'nn 
Sloan -& Gary. 
SorelU 

Saininy -Watklns Or 
.Hotel Statier 

JoHe Morand Oro 
Nllda ' 

Antonio Sc Elena 
.Catallna.Ro.lon- ' 

Ja<ik * . Eiddle's 
-Rubertinot Roberts 
Babe- Sherihiin-. 
Arlehe -Rlee-;Ofc' ;■ 
Iji Conga CJob' 
RAmon. Arjas Ore'. 
- . J.ladsay'g Bar'. 
-Judy Preston - 
Pe;arr.Det;ucca' ' 
Regal Cliib- 
Ducky' MalvJh Ore . 
Tlilrty-Seved Club- 
Pat Dennls- 
CiinnlnRham. Bis ; . 
..Tean'-Dellers . 
'3 . Debs ; - - • 



MIAIQ 



: Clob Hall 

-Tommy' Nune!! Oi;c 
Alfredo. Seville ": 
Joan .Brltton'- 
Breniy': Jiorrow' 
Ball Bau cis . 
Ca:rrou'iiel . ' 

Velero;sis'''Or<S 
Patty drtel .; .;>' 
P'eplto & C'a'rni,en ' 

';Jli)iinle'a . 
.Mike Peyton .-Qro. 
Tudell & Jedh. 
Pallelters ' ' 
Monahari'.& Morris 
Arle^ne '&.- Borden 
' . .:•: - JelTii- . ; ;.' 

Jerry Doimar OrC' 
Merle Burks . '. 
Myles;BelI ' 
Mu<-phy. Sls: - 

; Mother Kelly's 
Don Baker OriS' 
Owert & "Parker ' 
Bennett' Qreea ' 



Harriet Brent . 
Jack -.Rc^ynblds. .. ;' 

-''•',"' -Nat Club-' 

T.ubby> Rives -•- - 
S. rScrewbnlls . 
.Musical Maniacs 

: Kitty DaVls' . 

JoKhnji; Silver Ore 
Billy Vine . . 

.Samba Troupe . 

;,BeacKcoinber;.' 
Erhle' Hdlat Oro. 
Chavez Ore "• 
Mary Jane 'Walsh 
Maurice. ft' Cordobp 
Tropical Dane "'- - 

, Rhiimba Casino 
Ale'x.'BatkIn Otc 
Tirry la.Frahconl ; 
Camllle de' Mohtes 
LaCompaf sa" Dano. . 
Fantasia's R<in'ler's 

1(<>yal Palm Clab 
Ted:IjewU dra 



Clarliisa .' 

; " TePeo. Club 
Bert 'I..own Ore .. 

;nve O'clock Cliib : 

; Arthur ■vi'arreri 'Ore"-- 
Bmll Colon Ore. .' 
J-H Phiya Dano . 
MlljiiUa .; ;- 

PagorPiigo; RfMim 
(UeiiipsfyrVHnder- 
bllt Hotel) . , 

.- Bobby. .Pnt-ks Ore 
Vincent BraSttl(( Or ■ 

AViUlAi- Dohohiie ■ 

;Ti!(^Hno: Janis -. 
Klea'n'or- Tee'mrt'n ' -' 

.Galvln' Rhumbu-'Tr' ■; 



Daiite VS. p. ft. 

SsCont.lnued front page ■'ij^ 



about her\ ifter she .had refused to 
allow him to have a copy of. tlie. 
show*js souvenir prograrii. ; 

■'Dante - asked riie tgi ' apolpgize: to 
her,' said Priedriian.- T wi^rit' into^ her; 
d.ress.irig.;r6qm and started to explain 
and she flew off the. handle. The next 
day she complained that her Maine 
was left out' of; .tho. newspaper ads. 
As a matter of fact,.'we .never men- 
tioned her, name except in the large :: 
.weekend adyertisertierits. it was : then ', 
that Dante got sore and socked me.', 

Daritei said'he -wouldn't disciiss' the 
incident, yan Reernsdyke said he 
CavO Friedriian his rriotice :pri the. 
grounds that he (i^Friedman) anta-;. 
goriized people. Friedrnari left Sun- 
day for Pittsburgh and the assaiilt ; 
arid .battety warrant Wag swOrn oiit 
by; . his \. attorney,; , B. .; Jiathaniel. 
Richter^ ■ ■ 

' -;' f20«^^Bail fQlr: Danti [ ';;:;-'■'' 
Dante ' was arraigned . last^ night 
(Mon.) before Magistrate .Be.njamin 
SchwartiE ori a; body; warrant charge ; 
ing . assault and battery..' He. admit- 
teti • that he had struck Friedman, 
but said, the latter had cooked the 
battle up . as a puhlicity sturit to; 
plug 'the iiarid is ctuicker . than the 
eye' angle.: Friedirian'i' attorney .d<e- 
riied this, and /.asked the magistrate 
to .set_J$2,5po bail on : Dante for a 
further hearing Saturday (4), when 
Friedtrian could ; be - preseiit. . After 
some - haggling bail ' was set at. $200, 
which was provided by Miss Miller, 
cause of .the fight in the first place. 

yesterday (Mop.) the ads carried; 
Miss Miller's name. . / : . 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and .Mrs. , Bernie; Williams, 
daughter, Dec. 24; in Los. Angeles. 
Father is : Warner publicis.t; mother, 
is Kay. Mulvey, mag writer, 

Mr. and Mrs. Sydney ; Lehman, 
daiighter, Jn Buffalo; Dec. .24. - Father- 
is Buffalo branch manager of United 
Artists; .'- 

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Cappy, twin 
daug;h.t^fi5, in" Pittsburgh;; .Dec.; 20. 
Mother Was formerly with 3f Queens,, 
danclrig act,, arid fath_er's ari ex-band 
drummer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Garriies, daughr 
ter, in Los Arigeles, Dec? 25. . Father 
is an independent prodiicer and di- 
rector of photography. 

Mr. and Mrs, Jack Owens,, daugh- 
ter, -Dec 24, in Los Angeles. Father 
is a song Writer-vocalLst : at ' KFI, 
L.- A,- ■ ■ ^ 

. Mr. and ; Mrs. '. David ;E. Rose, 
.daughter, in Los Angeles, Dec; 20.. 
Father is Paramou^it's nianagirig- di- 
rector in Great 'Britain. ^ 

Mr .arid Mrs. PauV Lazayiisi; : Jn, 
,sbn, bee. 27, in New York. .; Father 
is with the Warner Bros, home pf r 
■flee publicity. '; -y 
. Mr.' and Mrs, .Harry Mc'WilUariris, 
sort, 'bec,' 21, in- New York.; -. F 
is program director on- '^the,; Haven 
McQu8iri;ie raaio program; mother^^^ 
is the forrner Rose DeJulio of the 
Cincinnati Cpera: 



Mai'jorie Thoma to Frank McCor- 
niick, in Pittsburgh, . Dec. 26. She's 
iwith KDKA in Pitt. ■ ; ; ' 

Sylvia Lille to. Harry. Stern, ; in 
Lbs Angeles,-.I)ec;'24.' Bride is sec- 
retary to; H. M. Warnei:. He is; ah- 
advertising executive. ■ ^ . ' 
: Virginia. Caiey to- Tad Re^yes, Dec. 
26; in Columbus, ;di He is public 
relation^ director for WBNS in that 
city ■■'■;-\:N'.'; .■ ;■',-• 
; Margaret'Elizabeth Otto to bonaild 
Weston Billings, Frisco turf announ- 
cer, in Falls Church, Va., pec. 21. : 

Williarii Nielseri, non-pro, arid 
Ruth Smelter of WJCC, Bridgeport; 
Aiig, 18, Iri Jftrrison* TJ. Y, . 
; Jill .Manneri, "daii.cer, to. Leon 
Goldstein, Dec; ad, in Lps Angeles. 



Wednesday^ Janiiary li 1941 



CHATTEil -Al 



Bri 



Riilph Sieveris ; lost father recently.. 
Louis liiiei- to .thie Coast on bu$i- 



Night,': /Being tested couple ct 
ihajoT studios. 

■ John Lazaro, one of . Villa Madrid 
owners here, fleW to Miami last week 
on' 'a.'nitery deal/ ■ . • . 

: Heinle 3rock's wife, - who" Injured 
her .back- a year ago, will rejoin 'Ice 



Harry Shapirb house manager of ^^^^ ^ . 

jidi tj' , , . . B . . , Ghick and Lee have been signed 



. Morosco, 

Rube Bernstein riianaglng Tivoliv 
■•BroGkiyn. : .. ^. ■ ■■■ 

Allen SChnebbe abed wHh gripipe: 
last week. : ■ ■■■ ■ \- 

Abe- Cohn tabbed: . with . handle,; 
1 Franchot Gohh by Chicago pals. :. 

.Rod Biish and ;Geprg6 F?aser left 
Thursday night (26) for Toronto on 
■ 'Hudson's' Bay' carhpaign plans. . . 
. Jean Heisholt, RKQ player, pires- 
eiiily vacationing in N. Y., will stay 
east- for at' least 9. nionth; . • : [. 

Jean MUir and Henry ; Jaffe dij^ 
• back toihorrow: (Thursdaiy) from ' 
honcymdon in the Adiroridacks. 
• Ted Loeff, publicity rep "for the 
Stejjhens-Lang unit at RKO, hud- 
. dlinji . with 'S. Barrett McGoi-mick. . 

iliimphrey Bogart . and ^ hiis. wife, 
. Mayo .'Methot,. back. in. town: after 
spending Christmas, rwitlr-friends.;up- 

■■::st2te. ■■ ■.>,r. ■ ■ .C':/ ' 

BiM' 'Sussmanj . eastern . division 
■sales manager f«>r 20th-Fox,. left -Ipr 
.in.or;ida ;Saturday.:|28), to: be gone a 
nionth'i ..." 

■ Billy Albert, Austi-alian newspaper 
rep ill N. v.. hosted, several foreign- 
—•-•-'-^--i week 



on., by Harry Howard's 'Holly wood 
Hbter.unit for a run. , 

,PJcc6lo. Pete .band ' slated f<ir ah 
early , return to Us old East Liberty 
stand, the Club Pfetitei. : : 

Eveiy member ;pf 'Ice Follies'' cast 
XmasTgif ted . by sho.w's owners with' 
$75 wrtrth'Of Baby Bondsi. , ■ 
' : Sally Cairns, local wihnfer in JesSe 
Lasky /Gateway' .contest, riow work- 
ing for .Earl Carroll oh the Coast. 
. The Pi<!k Hoovers h^ve . returned 
to Indianapolis, , where he?s a director 
of Civic Theatre, aftier holidayihg 
here.-'.-',; :.-:. ■■' ■/ . • ^'..^ • ■: • . 

Marie Rpst, head of cbiitract . dept.. 
at' WB. exchange, and Adrian Gbld.- 
bacTi .havef ..announced : their.; engage- < 
meiit. . '■ '\ ■■ " ■: :■ ■■: 

/ Bob .Fihke, -Tech- drama .grad^^^a^ 
son' of Southside ...exhib',. " learning 
film-rnakirig from ■. ground up at 
I Monogram studio.. : : .-"' • .- 



Mrs.' Bud Flahagan operated on ;f6r 
tonsils. removal.. •: : ■ -■' 

The Carlton . hotel, LOndbh, has 
closed owing to the. blitz.. . 
.. Laurie Evaris; bfbther of Rex 
^.;:driying American Red cross:. 

Btid Flanagan. -Jr.;: has; the acting j.: ijiepartment of jiifdrmatioh plans 
tiug .and. is. Ukely .-to -ifoUow in hJ^j to produce; "further/ >propa^anda 



bet for Dave Martin at Minerva, 
Sydney, with local . ca.st. 

Sir . Ben . Fuller, 5h conjunction 
.with, Williamsori-Tait, .figuring ire* 
viving 'Rio Rita' in Melbouhie.- 
; .'Blue. Bird' . C20th ) ' iir.eemed at 
Embassy. Sydney, oh the .Yuletide. 
Pjc has -been iced for a Jong span. 

Vie ' .Webb, . of .British Empire 
Filhis, ' recbvering : frorn :apperidix 



father's ; f ootstefes; 

■Gladys .Gobp^^^ furhiture,. which 
had. been shipped froiji London to 
H.olly wbbd, is . still -in transit. ; 

.-Some opposition; h 
around reritersi . plan . covering, release 
frorh contracts .6f exhibs;hit by ' war' 
•cpnditi^jris.":;../;. .'■ ,V ■'• 

' Bob boote; ' son ..6X -th^. lat€:,^ert. 
Copte, training in Canada, and when 
"proticient sails: for England to' join 
Royal Air .Force. . .■; . .; ■ 



I prx ne)rt year via CinesoUiid and Na 
'tiohal,- .:■ ■■.■■.:.■:•■■;-:• ■■^"^•'^ '.■ 

.Weekly mag pubUsljed by the Aus- 
tralian; BrOadca.stihg ■ Gorhmis.sioh 
has dropped . to 148,pO(i; in ■ ■.seven, 
months. ".' 

Sii". Ben : Fuller ; has .become" . d. 
grafidiJop for the: sixth time. Says 
iie will soon: have' his own army to 
beat back any invaders. " .' 
- : Clarence. Badner may . return to 
U. S. attd'r cp'rnpl.etin'g .'That Ccrtaih 
Something', for l^atiprjal, 



_ . Pic is' due 

John: Corfield'^s -.filrri ■ company .| for release itfairly.- in '.41.; ; 
rtnally set : Starts; pVoduetioh ;lhis | .' Unexpecfed iilick ■ in; Sydney is 
month. : . Intention .is : to^ make big ! T'he :Weslerner'- (IIA)''.foi:. Hoyts.. 



iSongwriteris;' 



sCbhtiuued from page ! ; 



■ftfSnS'uSSJ ^ r- |average of every IS^inut.s. where 
. Wi.th. Marty Gardner taking ;over . as.we. have to wait five- hpurs or so 
. the =Clijb Ciiba from the Sherman i.bet.ween. plugs,; in order .t'ol get a per-. 
. BiHirtgsley.-Fr.ed Armour' r directio.n. '. f orniaijce on the. air.^ you'd th'mk- this 
/Chic Farmer is back-.at th^. Stork:. was 'thte' amateur 'songwriters' inil- 
Arthur . ^ . Silverstorte- reeentlty ; lenium. .But . what happeiis is that 
named to handle PhiUy and Wash- f f 

ingtoij as district manager for United 
Artists, will headquarter' in Philly. 

Wolfe Cohen.; Warners! Canadian ' 
division 'managerK lias goiie back to. 



ypu:re 'so ; tired, of their Stiiff, you. 
heVer.care tp hear "Freriesi' br.'Je 
nie^. or a StrausS; waitz. ;fo^ years;. . 
. "Tb; show, how foolish; it ;is'^l^^^ 
Torcntb, Wfhere h'e makes . headquarr;j; that writers; can be lirpuhd .but likie. 
ters, after ; huddling /at the - li.;P: with ; sp -miny, sausa:geg',';;16oW '^^^ 
Rqv Haines/; -;; ■ ; ; . . ;.l the veterah' music firms have befpre 

Tay and Helga Garnet will ..yaca 



tioh east until. the 10th or spi before 
returning to th.e. - Coast- where the 
director -has an ; ijidie.: production 
■ideia -in view; 

■ Sarah : Rbllits, play agent of Co- 
. lumibia,' Artists, planed .to - Mexico 
City fox';New Year's. Due ba'ck-ln 
three -weeks; . after visit? to. Guate-. 
mala and Yucatam 

Rosario arid Antonio, quickie to the 
Coast this week. lbr *Ziegfeld Girl' at 
Metro, returning to. the Waldorf-; 
Astoria Jan.. 15, v^here the Spanish 
gypsy dancers have: .been holding 
forth; ';. -' 

; Don Reeve, Atch-s son, .Vfho's ait- 
tached to the Paramount h.o. pub- 
licity -departnient,. is home .Jrom the 
hospital after ah appendix poisoning, 
but .AwiU .not be back to work : until 
Feb. 1;- 

Lynn Farn'bl, whose resignation as 
pub-ad head of United Artists , be>- 
eame efle^ti've .yestefday (Tuesday 
leaves 

vacation i?K^ thg^TDOutlj, - retur;*mg 
around Jah. 

: Robert . Steele", :formej'ly. orf. the 
telegraph desk of the . Daily^ews 

' press-agentihg the WGN Concert 
Bureau. Succeeds Julian Seaman, 
who is how doing special publiciftr 
as.*iignments for the. agency. 
. Loew's home offide employees; last 
^week contributed^lOQ to the Times' 

: -*ldO J|eediest Gases' ftind and., aliso 
provided 30. baskets of food to -the 

.Catholic, and ; Eniscppal Actors' 
Guilds &nd ;N. Y. HeTjrew Day Nurs- 
ery. ■.;■-■■ 



Jack Elliott; aiiditioning new type 
,of comedy .show for NBC. i 
. . Ed Beatty, Butterfleld circuit exec. 

: was in fpr .some, biz .confa&s. 

Dpe Bahford, Metro exchange 
chief, recPupirig after operation. 
• Hotels aVe . all sold out fbr: January, 
indicating terrific show ■ business 

• month; for Chi. 

Ruby Newiriah in to play party 
for debutante daughter of -Charles 
. Qisere Wima'n; . Dwight's' brother,/.. 

; Everett Wflc; prPdufc'er - bf "Heffe; 

.: Todayv . elpped with' his .Wcret'ciiy. 
Patricia Cowari; last week and 

■I flapped to- 'the coast . ' f or , . . .b.rieC 
hoheymdon 



they. cari;.;match a .successful;; song- 
writing t'eart. I'll speak' for ;myself. 
After; Dbrbthy, Fields; and .Jimmy 
iMcHugh splitj - We ■ - had . ;t.o team 
McHugh . with Gus Kahn, Harpld 
Adamspn' and Al pubin to achieve 
iresults. Adamsbn arid Johnny. Green 
are a new partnership; the result of 
ItHlg 'experimehtatipn; V.ernpri Duke 
was hit'n' miss, until. Robbing Music 
'paired him with John LaTouche for 
'Cabin Iri the Sky.' Ditto' Pete^ der. 
Rose '.and Mitchell Parish, who we; 
also, brought together.. Or .Gus I^ahii 
now with: Nacib Hetb Browh/on the' 
Metro: lot in- Hollywood; ■; And' so it 

goes. -:*;-.' 

-Amateurs . 

The amateur-; thing. i$n't new. - .S.6 
Ruth ipwe' wrbte; a Sock hit In 'i'll 
Never;CSmile ; Again',V,but she's -hot 
"f^til^aThateur; :She's-been arptind 
for yearSi with bands, etc. 
.i As. a- niatter of fact-,.'aslc Santly- 
Jpy -^Select 'about their tieiip with the 
Song GuildvfQr* amateur tufaesmiths; 
wherein HoagXi-Cj^rmichael; Jimmy 
McHugh and otWs cbllSborated; I 
doubt if they got oilh&-bfg seller from. 
:thPse amateurs. . . . ; 
: bori't get. me wrdtig. ^Eyery pro- 
fessional was a fugitive from a 
Bowes .songwritihg unit--if the Ma- 
.ior had pher— atone -lirne or another. 
Biit the ]^MI plugging/of unknowns'' 
sons; : materia)- proves, that the mere 
opon^^sesame tb the .kilocycles isn't 
enough: • Kbhgwriters . are, born with 
ithat spark; not made .' by' . endles^, 
)-epetitive plugging, whether it's oh 
the radio or anywhere .else. . 

A% I said befpre. maybe this will 
wake up the 'has ' been fcof her* In 
Lihd.v-'s to start writing again. I hope 
so, -I hope also tliat radio realizes 
iV needs us ASCAPers.. . : and we need 
radio.:' ' . ' ■: 



pibtures. ' nothing below ..$?pO,Oflp 
-■- From ; reports to; his friends in 
England, Reic EVans' .sideline in Holr^ 
i lly wobd , is . - house .de.bPraling. .. . His 
j latest ;,is thevRonaid Cplrrian apart-; 
'rrient. ■ '■ ■;■", ;V: ■ -'.-'■■". '; ;'.:.-.' a'-^ . 
j The . ChaHpt'te' Cushman .Club of 
1 PhiladelpliiK; has, sent $200 to the 
I English'Speaking Unibii here for the 
■ relief of British members : of the 
theatrical profession. 

• .Gi.nema'Exhibitors' Association has . 
taken premi.'^'Ps. in-'Wardp.ur ' .street,: 
part .bf which .wa^ occiipied by. 
Ghkrles : M.; - Woolf-s~' " outfit, now 
moved over to A.sc6ti . .;' ' ; — ; 

Because' his iowner ; has gohe, in 
.for. wSr service,- Scruffy;, dog; film 
s.tar/is for sale; ' Master is -camer'ar 
nian Beriiard . Browne; who ho'pes to 
get into Royal Air :Force. , 

;Ai'thur Dent has acq.uired the Park 
Cinema; Bristol, once "owned by As- 
sociated Biritish Picture Cbpp., with 
which he had :been ebnriected fpr 
yea'Ts until his recent.resignation. ; 

Max - Miller.: iruhniiig. . re.siderit- 
vaudeVille.- .;shoW; at Hippodrome, 
Brighton, w-ith.;himself as star. Pro- 
grams changed weekly. Grily'perma- 
rients with hini are. T?racey and Hay; 

The ' Bredwiris, due . to open . at 
Coventry, cancelled due to illness, of 
:brie. of the ipartheris, so . after re- 
hearsals they left towri for. London 
a day. before the blitz which blew, 
up the theajre.. . - . ; . : - 

• For. thie first time a genuine filming 
of the interior of : the. Stock Exr 
change has' been" made. Heretofore 
permission had. always been refused.; 
In this instance it shows how LondPn 
is 'car'rying oh.' • ; ; 

Going .to bat for. the . front office, 
Michael PbWel), megger" bf . .'49th 
Parallel,' accepted full responsibility 
for its production; He. asked for a 
break and hinted rocky road tra- 
versed' thiis far by picture was built 
.on :bri.cks- tossed .by Ipcal press. . . . 



jgyV Douglas. ili. Graliariie ; -, 

. Municipal govei-nment is driving 
agaiifi; against public amusements 
ticket, specs. 

. Roy -Carter^ British - Orch leader 
here, engascd :again by Ibcal radio 
statibn XEB. .; 
Espferanza - Iris,' veteran corned 



'The : Westerner' 

'Thi.< one was' on the ice ^because 
rental ./igure ' • cbnsider.ed -' too 
■high.'..'.. ■;• :;■■ " ■ K 

Senator Foil is ejcpected to be .ap- 
pointed the new head of the Depart- 
nient bf Inforhiaitioh in place pt/Sir; 
.Keith: HurdbtH, Who -recently ve-' 
sighed to; .go., back 
work; '-. .• ;■■■':; . . ' . 

Willlamsoii-'Tait said .to be .dicker-' 
ing with Jessie Matthews and Sonny 
Hale to do- 'That's the. Girl' here 
next yeSr; - Carl... Brissort . preem.s 
here, .in February; doing -revue for: 
same marvagement^ 

Nb slackening jiic biz; in New Zea- 
land . as war. - work .continues ' to 
.inpuni. Marquees include : 'Foreign 
Cprrespohdent' \ (XJA-); 'Gunner 
George' (ATP),: 'I ' LPVe You vAgain' 
,(M^G)',' .Mortal . Storm'. - (M-G),' .'The' 
Westerner'; (UA).,; 'Boys From Syra- 
cuse.:; (U).-;"";: -.-' ;-.- - . ,: - j" 



Pro-Axis Steainiips 



^Continued froiii page.S 



flcial protest against 'Dictator' 'by the 
Gerrnan embassy. Film opens tPday 
(Wednesday) .at the Palacip' Cino 
with police guarding against denipn- 
Strators. .No. Italian, protest was; 
filed.. An officiiil Italian propaganda 
picture, 'Scipib'Afrlcahus.'. which re- 
lates the hitbry of: the: Rprrian em-i: 
pire. is billed to ppenln Mexico City' 
tomprrbw,. although :a permit ; was 
still beirig iSOUghy iate' Tuesday. 
; Argentine thumbs -; dowrij with, 
similar aetloii threatened in a nuhi- 
ber of othier Latin American coun- 
tries, takes on serious; -proportions 
when . producers are struggling to re- 
alize out of the S. A.; market at least 
SPme; pf the losseis' they: ;are suffer- 
ing in Europe. • S-A. . de.al; for 'Dic- 
tator' was -one. of the mPst favorable 
United ArtLsts had obtained. Film 
Was slated tp . preem .slhiultariepusly 
tomorrow (Thursday ) ih three houses, 
under " high guarantee agreements. 

■ MeJilco'Cpps Get Touj^ . 

Further demPriSttatiohs ; - against 
pictures; they don't, like by Nazi, and 
Fascist sympathizers in Mexico; City 
I are but. pPlice there ihnounced last 



Busby Berkeley .back frpni Okla- 
honia.- - .'.;-' ■ <' . ; -'■ :■..■■ : 

Rpchelle' Hudson bought ; . hou.s« : 
at.Malibu, ■- ' • " " .' v 

Herbert Marshall returned ; frbiri 
Manhiittan..-; ' - ■ '■: 

Rijby' ;;;Keeier's ; divorce ; frorn . A.l;: 
Jolson -became : flhal. ; ; ' 
. .Dana Dale changed her i fllm 
niohicker to Margaret Hayes. 
: ■ Jack Kreindler: ('21') spendinig the ; 
holiday.s; -in the . town's niteries. 
' - Albert;' W. .Hale, pioneer : film 'di'?: 
rector, recovering froiri. surgeiry,' - 
; Pete. Daily; New .Orlcaris news lad, . 
joined Columbia's publicity staff; . ' 

Merle OberPri a.hd-; -Alexander. 
Korda holidaying in :P'alni. Springs, 
ivDph Dari^y-' -Republic , buckarbo, 
starting 'east on liis firit stage tour,' ; 
' James Roosevelt . ..back" to ' Sari 
Diegb after-a short furlough ih HoU- 
Jywood. ; --;'■;.:.. ;: ;.'■■- ;r.-;...-- l •■ 
Howard .- Hughes, .'recovering;; from 
cuts arid bruises, .the. result -bf- >ri: 
aufp crash.-',.". .' .'; '. '■/;:•; • ■;;...^"'- 

Bob Speed's riiovbd f rom Para-; 
mount to . Universal •■ .• assistant to. - 
John • Joseph.; ■;..;: ■ : 
:■: Mervyri. Hauser '^shifted , tb -Miami', . 
'Fla\; to ..Ayirite publfcity; for Max; 
Flci.scher's cartoons. . ■ . .- ;. 

S.usariha Fosleri- setting; put- pn a - 
to ■ newspaper -' fiveTweelc toiir tp ; bally Parambunt's 
' :J:/iird\B6iIed' eanary/'- v , •;- :'. '":-: 
:Terry? Belmoht, one', of .Jes.se Las- 
ky's radio discoveries, has resumed- 
his right name, Lee Bonnell. 

■Jock Lawrence back at his desk ■ 
after twP 'wdeks. jn ;N. '■ Y. .' . -the ; 
.Greek AVar Relief campaign-.; 

Torii-Marmori, AllvAmerican foot-" 
ballist, huddling with Birig Crosby . 
ph a.;filrii- and -radio career/ - \ 
. .Nicholas M. : .Scherick in town :foi:; 
studio conferences arid a week; with; ' 
his brother; Joe;at' ;Palm.: Spring's., "^' 
. Clai-k Gable east for a physical 
checkuP' dt; John; Hopkins hospital,, . 
accPnipanied by Carole Lombard,'^; 

Pat. .West and the'niissus wrote an- ' 
other song, .'Little Refugee;' :dedi- 
i cated to horiicless''Europe"an childircri,. . 

Dick . Pritchard, manager of Am- ; 
bassador hbtel theatre, also now has 
directbrship of the hotel's entertainr; 
ment.-. .;-. ; ' <"., 

Frank Braden, fofmer circus press 
agent, in town to ex:plbit local en- 
gagement of . Walt ; Disney's 'Fan- ■ 
tasia:' ' 

Stirling Hayden and;: Cai-olyn Lee 
shoved off for an eiastern. personal , 
toiir iri coririectiori With Parambunt's 
/Virginia.' -.-■;■ 



Week. Flareubs jn . Mexico- City 
enne, ha.s. decided, to :quit operetta h^ve been; nn6re rtagr-ant and fre- 
arid. concentrate on comedyv ^ . .i-quentV than- anywhere else, so.iith 
Mexican rtiu.sicinn.s federation gave '•. pf - tlie Rio :Graride and there , has 
a_^concert .here- to .the men.ory .pf i been strong rea.sbii to ;beiieve that, 
S.lvestre RpvUeltas, composer, who ^ far ; fi-om; being .spontaneous. -^hey 



St Louis 

■-:. _;;—;- By Sam X.- Hurst ' 

.- Bernice. Goodson of the. Municipal - ; 
Theatre Assri, staff in Barnfes hos- 
pital with pneumonia, .'■ 
. Pete Sabro, manager of . the Prizf 
Ring Club, west end nitery, jugged, 
on a liquor, law violationv ' 

Jose : Iturbl; tb appear as . gue.st 
artist with - St; Louis symph oirch 
Friday and Saturday (3-4). 

Wife of (jeprge. Lloyd; chief of St. 
Ijoviis oirch b.b. staff; fractured hip 
iri falL She is : in Deacpnness Hos- 
pital.' ■■- -':• :. " ' -: '.V 

Dbrbthy lies, a grad of the Munici- 
pal: Theatire Ass-n sirtging chorus,- 
:now' a ;.featured : singer with Geprge 
Fibres' band. ; .. 

' Carl. (Baldy) Wetzel, onetime mu- 
..sical. director of road cprppanics. pf . 
the 'Follies' and 'Scandals,; thump- 
ing; a piano in a local bistro. ' 

Jack.son Perkins;, grad of: St. 
Louis Little Theatre and .currently a, 
Broadway 



Claire-Behrman 



; Cohtini'ied; ironi 'page 2; 



, actress, to wed Lauren 

died recerilly. . . wf>r<» 'insnirpH- hv t>i*> Na7i 'hroDa. j Gilbert, Shakespearean ; actor. 

Virginia Zuri. dramatic actre.s.?. .! were inspired .by the Nazi propa- | Robins, manager of the local 

featured once: weekly on the pror ; ganaa macnine,.. . ;.; jua office, distributed bonu.s checks 

gram of the riew.spbpcr .El Universal |. Demonstrators fprced the closing ,to ;2o employes who have been on 
at .station XEB. . '. ; of 'Pa.stor Hair in MexicP^.City after the payroll six. months or more. 

Lions Cliib ; banqueted AlPn.so only four days bf its run by caus-. j Margaret June Mc^ahon, member 
Sprdb .Noriega. XEW annouhcer.;who ' ing di.sturbahces and thieatenirig/ 

the manager arid his hpuse. 'World 
in Fiames". is currently playing at the 



as 



"craishihg dbwnV and;: miscues --fell . 
though' rain -.-frbii^-'h.eaven. ;;' 
Miss Claire at. '-that . time stepped 



.. Theatre Authority, ^Hh-^oopera..:M,^^ 
tion of Fred; Crowe of Actors Fund, sthose, whp bi aved- the three, hectic 
-Frank Dare of Equlty; Jack Irvirifi :ef ^ acts, offered profuse 
-AGVA and Roy Johes of AFRA, teriibtihg a -play Vithout, sufficient 



has become chief of the. govern- 
riient's information department. - 

Mi.?ue] Angel Ferriz arid Matilde- 
Palou, husband and wife,; playing a 
married ;cPUple in the pic,' 'Labios. 
Sellado.s' ('Sealed Lips'), . now mak- 
ing here.- ' 

.Marjjarita Maris. Austrian soprano, 
Who; has played here foi- about: a 
:year, featured in the .-Spanish mu-- 
sica'l: co'rhed;y seas'^h ; ju.st opened 'at 
.the:'Te.atfo; Fabr.cgas; . . 
' . Agust'in Lara;; .ace -' Mexican . ro- 
mantic ;.s.b;n g w r i: te r, ' rribrikey- 
wrenched rcRbrts' ihe is the: foe ;;6f 



of the ; Municipal Th eatre Assn's 
chbrus, arid free lance radiP canary, 
wed tO: Ijesler A. Randolph, a; non 
pro. GoupTe will reside in. Modesto,; 



Cine Orfebn under pplice protection' {^j^J 

after prpvbcateurs instituted a ^c Carter: directing LiUle 

paign of yelling, , stamping their feet. Theatre cast for 'I tore Today.' to be- 
throwing s.tench bombsand spreading prc.scrited thi.s month. In topi roles 
itching -powder- , | are ; Lucille' . WilMamson, Nata 

I Such, disturbers in the future -will j Egel,.. Jackm^n Bieger and ..Gene. 
I.be.tirpiripti.'if 'arrested, ai'ithprities de- i.™4^9n*^'Ji 



cisired, arid thfe rights of . all tho.se 
I'wiio. pay . to -seie . a film ; will be '..pro-:'. 
■ tected,;: ';.-;' •'.' • ■■- 



: -T . ,. , ■:- -r V - - . . .-r, .: ... v. - - j ,, 'I his-cPmpellt'or. Go'hzrtlo .Kuri: CurKel, 

arranged, .for .'feeding pt.;all; « >".y>t«^:<??'e.a.nd,ay;_to,j^j,^^ a ij^rty .fpr him. ' ■ 



.actors: 
sDayi; 



Henna's pn; Christriias. .'^{,^0. their stubs^for ^.refund; The | ji^c had:,Presi4eht' Mariiiel; Avila 
- ' -" bpxbffice -stampede,- hpw.evch . had -;Gji,-niatho: as .its giiest Pf honor at. its; 
gotten underway long bi^fore that." .' ..private ejthibitiph of 'Flight Com> 
°' . .. — . . '- - . - -. -I. -^-ji li, iu« ■Mr;ri:i:.rt' 



By llal. Coheii: 



^'■.':[ -} C.';2,;Tlghtfenli»ir'tlp; ;; 

.. .. .; " WaShingtoh, Dep. 31.;.; 

Tighlcning of filrii ce.nsPrship :;te-: 
.striclibris' at Parijama City, G. ;Z., has. 



After seven rears, P'rin'cetoh again [ mprid' ih; ilhb-Ministr.y of Foreign Rc-"i been ihaiigura.ted -by the; ric.w mayor 
had ; 'opportunity; 'to. ..see; V'^Blog- ■ lniitJns■^tti^■,P^ cianai' iibne ;City,:.the.1Bi«reau; 



The Leighton Nobles! .'pffspring due 
- to be boi'n in Boston h^xt .,Jurie,.. ; ' . 

Barclay "McCarty: in towri . bealiiig. 
. -drums f Pr Dennis King's : new mosi- ■ 
":t:al;.■^:;' ' • ..' '- 

,. ;JOey Cappo arid his wife.. Rlilh: 
. - Hazen, }he.dancer; ,are;,bkc)(: ia Holly- 



in a. rev-jvol last -Juhe for Ihe .Mc- 
Carter Sumriier theatre sejison. Lo 
and ■ behpid..- :Mi.is 'Claii^le-';: ajipea^ed 
unde'r trying -cirbumstances,: spif- 
flirig thrbugh. a wcek:;pf pcrforrii- 
aiiPos .'.while fftihtiiif! a bad cold.' - ; 
' ;Canib -'The Tallev- Method'. arid Mc- 
CJartcr. . ; after . hafbo.ring . such 



■G rep, super- :j of'; Foreign -and, Dofrte.stic .Cb.nimerce: 
reported- Saturday (28 J ' 



Appreheri.sipn Pf Ariierlcari .distrib.- 



, By Eric .Qdrrick 



'Thev Hiinir/iiiMji: - We"'Wjach'; Xnias- 
siid rclotjytrd ^by -UKO in S.vdney 



John Mnt"lqw; exhib in. Herrin .arid' 
Murphysbbro, III.,; has made, a' ticup • 
with "WJBF, . Herrin; ;.lll.., whereby'- 
person.s :W'HQ;«5e name.'?, {ire .mentioned ' 
pver.,the;:a'ir may becoirie.cu'Tb guests ' 
;at' either :talker • hpusfc.- . 



By. Lcs Reei: 



; -Ben ; liaricly, : Columbia bobker,- out. 
.:pf .coriimi.sision- :with. flu. . '- ■ -. -. '.v . \ 
Columbia employes presented :'Hy'. 




Prefci-r.ed,' ;■ - JValliicc -; Parnelj;-: Tivoli,. :--lca.vcs 
3,: tbi>^ tiriie for .•tyo:;:|y^f Lfj'^v}!?! '.^'ES^-^ l^fP'BcbV Daniels' and Ben Lyon routed 



..spori^^^ oil talent Ipbli.'-'oe' to . U; - S- 



- Tobacco -Rb^d': pays ^annual '.visit 

- to Nixori Feb. 3, this tiriie for tVo •/ Suzanne ;aiid the EId<? , 

weeks. ; ' ' ; ■■: ' : ^ ' ;:Record;' ;elG.y froiri June' next. 

'-; E.liiabpth' duhriirigha>Ti,-;Pf Rep of- . ■ first' tirtie; thi;s..seaspn. . Not -even .the i . jyiiaj-jg Bu^j5j.;h,,s, hipe,i^ 

- .fice, okay, again after appen-:- -ballyhobcd Elmei*. Rice play, 'Fl;ght | jiy yhbws with Noel Cowand-. in Syd- 
..dectoniy. -:'.'-..,.. .;-:.-'.. , - . ; . to thV. West,' which the Praywrigh't.S::^ney^^ ''::■'-"■ • ' :,: . :- 

.< Ed Morton feeiirig better and he',s', had preerned here two weeks ago,, y ^eiirniyals ' are .finding the ; 



the; hew .con.>-'or;-;hTp . policy- was : riot- : ahd' Havhnai 

(ixpeicled to ■•alYe'Qt- them^iv'ais 'niajot- f .\Sa.m Bprg;- ' form.ierJy manager:-, of 
ofTcndcrs ;afe--;reRortcd to -be :di.-;trib- .. Esquii-c, how- holding, -down- -.similar 
rrt;Or.s- pr fiims -oiri^ihaiing fn.. other; ^^P^^^ ; - : " ' -. , 



eone to Florida to cojtvyalesce. M'issus .i created the stir , and boxvbffic 

■ • Mvr:;n *^ r'iiw,^^ f^^^ ^1^''' BchrmianrClaire setti! 

.-• Man Who Came -tp Dinner usm.« .Ti.. »»»^;i , .,;it:„i < 



office .sale fairly , toiigb in the 'stix owing 
„eti,ri 4i-o. drf'Ught condition.':, '.. 
0 jjinner usin.s ., , „ . -it- i t 1 Goverririicnt may be shortly, fip- 

MX choir boys fi'om the- Trinity Ca- Vided. Pnnceton-.wa? willing to tor- ■ pj.oached. by hewsa/ien'-*-. to lift the 
hedral'here. ' -..-.'. -c bari cri IJ,; S. fan riiag!;. ; . 

-Donald Bpka, 'local I'ad in 'Twelfth (.. But the -jinx. marches ph. ; : :' .'Design.: for- Living." oiiiiy.. 



; foteigri countries,.' 
\: ,■ 'Local tcpi'e.s^n'tatiye.s ' of motion 
: picture distribirtPrs ;\<'ill be held re- 
sponsible', for the 'Jjrpyicw.s'yp'fjj/theif 
, Respective fllmsv the' (^iornrnerce :D,e- 
going; parlfneht^declared, 'fincl -niist- furnish 



■'•0 ;^the.riec;essar.y facilities. ..Most of the 
' Amcrif'an di-stribiilors' h9"'ie thefr 
-own preview rooms, find tho.se. who 



Bill .Wat.m'augh, former Girand- Na- 
'. tlorial :■ branch . manager; going with 
,; Warner; Brojs,: as booker.; ;.- 
: Wife of- George Granstfpm, ih- . 
dtpcridtint . irciiit -operator, ; .suffi- 
c.'cntly recpvered from auto accident 
injuries to irtove' Wonie from :hPs- 
pitiiL^.. .-- ■'■•; •■ ■' ;■ '■' 

; : "C...J, "Hubbard and: .H.- Thielvpidt 
both reelected as president .ahdr v-.p.;- 
■"fi.ipccliyely, of.^ 3h^ . . Minrieapplis 



:_.dp npt- wui: begivf^ lainijl^ t|meUo;;i,^oviri«- ;Picture^^^^^ 
Iciiit.i.prpvjde'ihiJm.^,;- - , ■ i ;.v^.; . r^ ,;-;,! ^lo,' . ■■ , ..,.:;; ,- -, .; .- .\ '-y 



48 



Wednesday, January 1, 1941 




Do you do everything yoii can ko bring tho pay- 
ing customers under your marquee • • into your 
lobby • • • up to your box-office? Do you change 
your frames • • • re-dress your marquee re- 
design your lobby display • • • stand 'em up in 
front with color • • • smartness • • • brilliance when 
you've got a real money-grabbing picture? Do you take advantage of 
the press-books and the things they recommend? 

Remember « * « advertising * * « showmamhip * « « exploitation 
« .\ was ** .U . • « always will be the lifeblood of this business* 

Is your theatre full of red corpuscle advertising or does it need a blood- 
transfusion to bring your customer-approach up to snuff (PROFITS 
TO YOU). 

If there's any doubt in your mind ask the Priie Baby • • • he's got the 
answers in Trailers • • Lobby Displays • • . Standard Bok Office Ac- 
cessories by 




nnrmnfit ^'^'^scRvicE • RDVEKrisinb nr c i ssuRies.mc. 

nnrionRL C^t^^^ ntCESsoRif s 



Published Weekly at 154 West 46th Street, New York, N. Y., by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, $10. Single copies, 25 cents. 
Entered as second-class matter December 22, 190S, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. 

COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY VARIETY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



VOL. 141. NO. 5 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1941 



PRICE 25 CENTS 




won by Lux Radio Theatre 

"For Best Dramatic Program" 



1935 
1936 
1937 

1938 

1939 



1940 



N. Y. World-Telegram Annual Poll of Radio Editors 
Radio Stars Magazine Award 
(for distinguished service fo Radio) 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio Poll 

Motion Picture Daily Poll of Radio Editors 
Radio Guide Medal of Merit 
N. Y. World-Telegram Annual Poll of Radio Editors 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio Poll 

Annual Poll of Hearst Radio Editors 
Motion Picture Daily Poll of Radio Editors 
Women's National Radio Committee 
N. Y. World-Telegram Annual Poll of Radio Editors 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio Poll 

Annual Poll of Hearst Radio Editors 
N. Y. World-Telegram Annual Poll of Radio Editors 
Women's National Radio Committee 
Motion Picture Daily Poll of Radio Editors 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio Poll 

N. Y. World-Telegram Annual Poll of Radio Editors 
Motion Picture Daily Poll of Radio Editors 
Radio Guide Poll 
Radio Daily Poll of Radio Critics 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio Poll 

N. Y. World-Telegrdm Annual Poll of Rodio Editors 
Movie-Radio Guide Poll 
Cleveland Plain Dealer Radio. Poll 
Motion Picture Daily Poll of Radio Editors 
Radio Daily Poll of Radio Critjcs 



Lux Radio Theatre 

WINS AGAIN I 



7th record-breaking year-^ 
greatest audience in history 
of radio drama 



Since 1934 acclaimed "the best dramatic program*' by radio 
critics and millions of regular listeners, the Lux Radio Theatre 
again says: "Thank yoo, Hollywood!" You have made it possi- 
ble for the Lux Radio Theatre to bring thrilling entertainment 
by the finest dramatic artists in the world into American homes 
from coast to coast. To these artists— and to the hundreds of 
technicians who have helped "behind the scenes"— the Lux 
Radio Theatre offers a very special vote of thanks. A "Thank 
you" to each and every one for his part in making the Lux 
Radio Theatre the highest rating dramatic haur on the airl 



LUX RADIO THEATRE 

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, HOLLYWOOD, CAL. 

DIRECTED BY CECIL B. deMILLE 

LOUIS SILVERS, Musical Director^ 

MONDAYS, 9 P.M. NEW YORK TIME, WABC 
AND COAST-TO-COAST COLUMBIA NETWORK 




VOL. 141 NO. 5 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1941 



180 ^AGES 









By Joshua Lowe 



London, Dec. 25* V 
, 'In, the Air— In the Bag!* That's 
the fount of public interest during 
tliis opening stretch of War II. King 
Sky and his players rate at figures 
the Crossley people see. only in a 
. dream; Airforce Blue has come to 
•jneaii . more than a color; it's a 
rhaterialistic weave of Jacbb's Coat 
and Jason's Fleece. Britain's gals 
are broken out in a rash of wingv 
brooches clipped close to the heart. 
He's in th^ Airforce! 

Cinemagoers here are controlled 
folk, usually, considering it indis- 
creet to indulge in more than;a little 
hand-music when a popular favorite 
makes the newsre?ls. Be reserved! 
But even if thalE smiling guy on the 
screen's only in the Volunteer Re- 
serve whoop it Up! He's got wingis 
ha(sn't he? If sonrieone could have 
hung a happy ending on the re- 
make of 'Dawn. Patrpr, house-rec- 
ords would have tumbled like Mes^ 
•erschmitts in. September. 

This airborn heartache got. so ter- 
riBc comedians took . lb gagging 
about it when a line failed to clinch 
• laugh, 't know, I'^n not in the 
Airforce' was their comeback. The 
•pilot look' was good as a through 
ticket to Joe Public's heavenly, esti- 
mation. 

In early August, arid with a clear 
«ky against which to stage this dog- 
flght game, rooftops were a grand- 
stand perch . for London apartment 
(Continuied on page 50) 



Shirley Temple and Ma 
Drawing Down $3,500 
on M-G Deal 



Hollywood, Jan.:, 5; 
: Shirley Temple's new ' contract 
yrith Metro, calling for $2,500 a. week 
for herself and $1,000 a week for her 
mother,' Mrs;. George Tejnple, has 
been signed by the principals' and 
6Ubmitted for approval of Superior 
Court Deal is for one year, with the 
studio holding the right .to retain the 
moppet after that period. : 

First picture on the Culver City 
Jot will probably be a musical in 
which, she. will cb-star with Mickey 
Rbpriey and Judy Garland. ' 



Yourtg; Rathboite Yehsj 
To Bag Nazi ■ Planes 

\ betrpit, Jan. . 5. 
Radion . Rathbone, son:; of . Basil 
Rathbone, declihed tb pose for news- 
i paper phptographers at , Windsor, 
Dnt., where he is an the elementary 
flying school. 'I doh?t want to po?e 
for any jbictures,' -htf told the snap- 
pers, 'until J have-shot down. 20 Gerr 
man-planes.*,. 

•Youhg actoi-, whP had; been in: the 
films, once with his father in 'Tower 
of London,' now i.s trainirig to be- 
come a pilot in the Royal; Canadian 
Air Force. 



Triple Comeback 



Hollywood, ;Jah. 3. 

Ozzie Nelson band and Harriet 
Hilliard check in at Columbia early 
in April for 'Betty Cb-Ed,' / which 
features Ruby Keeler. ^ 

Marks film comeback for all three 
after a long absence from the screen, 



D/of j.Gosely 




Theatre Actions 



Having permitted the major pro- 
ducer-distributors to retain their 
theatres under settlement of the U. S. 
anti-trust suit, the Department of 
Justice is keeping very closed tabs on 
activities of the chains and will cbn- 
tinue to do so under operation' of the 
consent decree. Task of supplying 
all information derhanded by the D.; 
of J. and making reports in detail is 
placing something of a burden on the 
picture companies as a result. Those 
owning theatres are Metro, 20th-Fox, 
Paramount, Warners and RKO, . 

Presumption is that the D. of J, 
will Iceep a close «ye on all com- 
panies so that expansion inoves do 
not become too widespread. Whether 
or not any new building, change of 
interest or poolirfg arrangements 
may also be investigated is not 
known;. alsb. whether or not reasons 
given for expansion, building, lease 
takeovers, etC:, may be looked into. 
, There are. definite riestrictions, un- 
der the consent decree, but in the 
minds of theatre men it is a question 
of whether they apply fully, in part 
(Continued on page. 20) 




New Recruits W h 0 Ha ve 
Won Star and Featured 
Roles BattlinK for Their 
Share of Hollywood's Fi- 
nancial Rewards 



SOME EXAMPLES 



By Bob Moak 



Hollywood,, Jan! 6. 

While there's still a seemingly un- 
limited supply of gold in Holly- 
wood's celluloid caverns, the quality 
of the ore now being mined by fllm 
iftayers, especially newcomers, is a 
far cry from what it used, to be. 
However, once proved at the b.o., 
they too can seemingly win hand- 
some 'readjustments' for themselves. 

Currently discovering that all that 
glistens is not coin of the realm are 
those hundreds of young troupers 
who have started their climbs in the 
last two years, a well as additional 
hundreds of established older actors 
(Continued on page 48) 



Free-Drink Magicos 

Need Likker License 



^Detroit, Jan. 6. 

Too • late now to deter Think-a- 
Drink Hoffman and others of his type 
who have made recent appearances 
here, the State Attorney General's 
Office of Michigan has ruled that a 
magician who conjures a drink but 
of a hat needs a liquor license, even 
if he gives the drink away. . 

Since such magicians dispense hard 
drinks they would be forced to get a 
Class C license, highest in the state, 
which would cost $500. 



Gable, Garbo 1-2 in Foreign B.O., 
Durbin, Hynn, Gary Cooper Next 



Hedy and Leo Fendm' 

, ■ Hollywood, Jan. 5, . 

Hedy Lamarr and Metro, are feud- 
ing again. The actress .is demanding 
a vacation after three consecutive 
pictures, while, the studio wants to 
loan her to 20th-F6x for 'Blood and 
Sand,' which is : now shooting in 
Mexico City. 

Miss Lamarr's last tiff with the 
studio was over coin, 




Spy' a Political 

LA. 




Bueno9 Aires, Jan. 5. 
Terrific undercover South Ameri- 
can propaganda battle between the 
dictatorships and the'democracies„of 
far more imporianca than the pix 
involved; is seen by observers here 
in the bahning of Charlie Chaplin's 
'Dictator' and 'Confessions :0f a Nazi 
Spy' (WB) in Buenos Aires. Halting 
of both pictures during the same 
week set loose a tremendous cam- 
paign by anti-Nazi and antirFascist 
organizations here to have the nix 
lifted. 

Because there have been few such 
bans, machinery of how it worked 
and just what haippened are confus- 
ing even to localites. Argentina has 
no official censorship of films. The 
Constitution, patterned after that of 
the Staites, prohibits anything that 
limits the right of free speech, But,' 
as in the ,11: S., authorities in certain 
municipalitle? and provinces (what 
would be called States In the U. S.) 
(Continued on page 50) 



ASCAP-Radio War Waits 





Confab 



.With the shock of. the actual break 
between- the. two antagonists now be- 
ing over, the strategists . for the 
American ^ Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers and ' the 
broadcasting- industry appeared last: 
week to be digging ' in for a long, 
drawn-out battle. ASCAP let it be 
known that once the U. S. Depart- 
ment of justice took any drastic 
action against it there would be no 
chance of the Society sitting down 
with the networks for any sort of 
negotiations. In the. broadcaster 
camp lines . were at, the .same - time. 
\ being tightened on the Washington 
\ front through : a joint gathering of 
the executive committee or boards of 
the National As.spciation of Broad- 
casters, Independent Radio Networks 



Affiliates and' Broadcast Music; Inc./ 
in that city Tuesday (7). 
■ During, an extended meeting bf the 
ASCAP- board of - directors Friday 
(3) the suggestion was made that the 
society refrain from fiiing .wholesale 
infringement siiits and instead sit 
back with folded arnis .and await 



Deadline Jan. 5 



This editibh- of Variety went 
to press Jan. 5, ■ < 
• Eariy . -deadline, because of the 
mechanical . problems and the 
siz^ pf . this issue, makes it nec- 
essary to omit . certain standard 
departments this week. 



listenei-S' reactions to network pro- 
grams. Also discussed.:at this gather- 
ing was the new tack .taken by Thur- 
man Arnold, assistant U. S.. attorney 
general,, in ' his drive -to force a 
settlement, between :' ASCAP -cind the 
radio industry; Opinion within 
ASCAP is that it wouW be {jlaying 
into.the Gbyernment'S hands if it had 
anything to dp with NBC or Colum- ' 
bia ; while any prosecution ' moves | 
were oh the fire. . . ; | 

; Follpwiri^- the .ASGAP meeting, it 
Was. lik-e.wise disclosed that the So^ ; 
ciety . may undertake to license npt-, 
, work .advertisers direct this .. week. ■ 
Several approaches, in this direction; 
it wais said, , have been. made and the ; 
I questions before ASCAP now are the 
1 ^Continued on page 20) . ) 



; Top boxoffice favorites of 1940 in 
the foreign mairket (territory out- 
side of U. S: and Canada) in order 
of the business they drew were: 

1. Clark Gable 

2. Greta Garb» 

3. Deanna . Diirbio 

4. Errol Flynn 

5. Gary Cooper 

6. Bette Davia 

7. ClaiUdette Colbert 

8. Jeanette MiacDonali 

9. Mickey Booney 

10. Paul Mnnl 

11. Tyrone Power 

12. Dorothy Lamour 
1^. Ginger Rogers 

14. Spencer Tracy 

15. Cary Grant 

16. Gene .Antry 

Compiled from findings by Variety 
correspondents all over the world 
and the boxoffice figures received in 
New York by American- companies in 
their theatre operations outside the , 
domestic market, the survey ex- 
cludes product which went on re« ' 
lease after Nov. 10. 

Fact that Great Britain represehti 
about. 55% of the gross foreign busi- 
ness today, because of dislocatibhs 
caused by the European war, metins 
that b.o. favorites in the British Isles 
dominate the' foreign territory sur- 

; (Continued on page 48) : 

Flagstad, Vexed With. 
Met, States She Will 
Do Concerts Solely 

Kirsteh Flagsltad, Wagnerian so- 
prano who recently announced her 
intention of remaining in the U. S. 
next season, apparently intends to 
devote herself exclusively to con- 
"6erts. She has been a top; boxpffice 
draw at the. Metropolitan Opera for 
several seasons, being largely cred- 
ited with the revived popularity of 
thie Wagnei-ian operas. But her 
statement of next season plans 
pointedly failed tb :mention the Met. 
; Soprano is known to have been 
under intense pressure to ireturn- tb 
her home in Norway at the end of 
the current opera-concert season. 
Her husband, and, family are there 
aiid she is reported to. be greatly 
worried over their welfare. How- 
ever,, various people have continued 
efforts to persuade. her tb remain i ' 
the U. . S; ; Her announcement that 
.She would do so. specifically states 
'for concerts.' ' 

Understood , .that. Met . /officials/ 
alarmed by this, indication of M\ss 
Flagstad's plans, have been trying to 
talk her into changing, her- mind, but 
,so far vi^ithput avail.. According to 
the singer's friends, tiicre is no finan- 
cial angle in her determination not: 
to return to the Met. Explanation 
from ;this source is that the soprano's 
feelings Were hurt by what she re- 
. gards .as d iscPurtcsies , bh the part , pf . 
thc.Mcf management. However, she 
has made no statement of her rea- 
sons, or even announced directly 
that she is through at the Met. But 
according to those familiar with, the 
situjition, she has refused to discuss 
matters with Met officials. ; 



PIGXUBES 



Thii-ty-fifth PkRIETY Anttiver$dry 



Wednesday^ January 8, 1941 



Gold Mudpie^ fbr^ 
Kiddies: Courts Watch Their $ 



Parade of the Peacocks 



: . . ..Hollywood, Jan. Jj, . 
Half dozen flliii .debMtarites. 
former- models, - arrived'^ ^ 
■ ■■ rw . . . :. i . ..- ' " -- .-..I York. -to: crash, the- picture business 

■ ' as bit' players ih -T'he Road- to 'Rio' 

Mickey :Bponey, : Jady^ 

sict-eeri tests, are Betty Avery, Bunny 
Hartley, \Maripn Rosamond, vllose- 
arine Murray, ^tillian V Egger?^^ . a^ 
Mary,^ Joy ce Walsh. . . . 



Jiine Witlii^rs Ainqiig Juve Top^pers 
Protected f or , the Future 



fees' 
•into 



flxed by the • couHs, rnust go 
. ti-uSt^^ ifundik for. ';the; br^ad-; 



Ho.llywpbd; : Jan. r5. 

While filrrt studio, cliiecs cprttinue 

td collect gtey .liairs as they pon.?ler ..j^^^j^^- .^^g-pr^gg-jj 

•ways and :tncans pr pruning ih^ iri- i babes .have, been more .ihah . duly' 

du^try's enorn^ys annual outlay ''fPr i iitipres-s^^^ facts uncovered.; in the 

perforhVing talent; the screen's bright- •[9«°gf'^ '*^^?' """"f "^^^ ^ 
peiiouiune w c , . , ' • I mg to cooperate with the tribunals 

er . kiddies go .merray on their \vay - 

toward bigger:, and: better. ri.nRnc al.|;jj^jg^gy ; Roorieii:, Judy Garland, De- 
grabs. Foi;i.nJ>tance, .Nov: q ^ya?Jl}e...anna . .jDUrbin. Jackie Cooper not 



PimLlC SERVIGE FIRST 



;The/b<?st that cjin.-b£ 'said for 1940 .Vyas a 

dii.ll .mpinGut;. . • ' ' 



KRUGER'S HAL 
PRODUCTIONSVIA UA 



. .Frjbm the sho\v^valT^5 Viie.wpbiilt. aftientioiii was . 'divcrtod fr(M^^ 
w.oHd y;.lTairs to nikjbrCre'adjttstnicilt^ on the home front,- 

^ Film in(l;ustrvv recojk^^^ l.os.s of >iibstahti:al • ft^ 

reyenijie fof the.AVtir's duratioit, lias conformed 0pcrations-.\^^^^^^ 
\\\ domciitic -boundaries. The nc\v: year brings inl(r cl^\'c;t rad- 
ical, changes in-. distrilHjtpr-exhibit()r rclatidris 
of a t:onsoht: (lecree Kfettlcnieht of the'; ahli-txitst stiit bT(>usrht ..b.y . 
:the:-Pq)art;iu?nt'-bf,Justi^^^^ ■..^ ^C^. 



only have their: trust accounts; but 



.eve of aTiother Presia.eiiiiai : ■.■ioi?tion 

to iAillic:-..<..or AmeriCT^ but jor ;.th(>y have alioi b.uHt lip extensive 
Mickey Booney ,it meant, an.- option i.V^'^i. estate holdings out of that, half 
lift . witfi pn accompanying .salary.; ^f.tj,^^ diverted to trusts: 

bopst of :$25p;.wGfekly,N. / ;t /Baby SahdyV entire eai-riing 

^'"^ '^"S.nSdT^hemsSS'^n tniy^sal and from: ti^up..: are 



age would 



seventh heaven i; their paycheck to- 
taled that .rijrure frir each .six days 
of toil, the ■ Vncrease to- : the- . Metro 

playei- . • • / "^^t^jy" -"<^th«^.^°P^i^ There has been little change in Gloria 
Ws golden t>^°VK^^^^^^ ^S;J«an:s.mode bf jiviii^ she be- 



being salted away in trust funds.' 
Infant's dad, who drov.e a milk route 
when , Sandy landed in : picturets, is 
still . holding . doWn the. - same , job. 



stands to earn some $240,000 yia :his~ 
screen and radio >ypi:k. and .peT-'pnal 
appe"rrnces -. during . the., next, .12. 
months.- ■ ■ 

Nor does Ropney stand aiioric in the 
big monSy division of what the Cali- 
fornia legislature and ctiiirts; which 
are do ing what they can to safeguard 
the cinfcmh youngsters* earnings, are 
wont to refer to as 'minors ahdjwar<Js 
of the cPurt.' . V 



came a b.o.: attraction, either. 



. Deal is . set, it is .urider^^^^ for 
John 
United 

Roach imprint. . . Story ; . Is ; Dri .Leo 
Rosten's 'Adventures jri -Washihgtoh,' 
which will be; produced under the 
title 'T)V[i.<;hingtPri Co-rrespopdent.-' . 

Brian D.onlevy,. it is said, is being 
sought ;fpr the lead: Robert .Sherr 
wood, another, indiie-',, who has . been, 
seeking a IJA release; ^lad: preyiPUfeiy 
announced a filnn under the 'Wash- 
ington Correspondent' label 



in^'KrugeT- 1^"^^^^^^^ f'residential: campaign, radvo;i>uddviily • 

ited . Agists: release; " : .■ ■ the Hil I is brotlgHt-'fatc tG ftice >V'^^^ ' 



net WorUs-AS€ A.P.- ;s 
chtse.:- - ;:■ ■:> 



e -ovier terms of a new - lilusic fran- 



THE BERLE-CSG POINT | 

-By ;.Miltoh;Berle "■• 



.As" the field of x'ntcrtahimcnt i^xtends tb ncw Trpittiers eiiO+jniT. 
'pa.ssio<^ fiiilfions .of cif^ 
thai; 'Gov^fiinicntal fegiilatibn; t.hr()U|^;h ;c^ 

■become j>. 4 iiecc?si;iry f !ic.tor;; ; Radio; is. ' intimately ■ {icciiiaintcd, 
\vith-. tiie Tout ine' through thij Fe •Cqiiitnis- 
.sion. It is a trend of tlie times, :Other industries' have felt tlvie, 
Rosten writes- for "ITie .New Yorker M 
under- the' tag . of .-i^^ Q. Ross. 

; : Cetebratirignts .;35th: birthd;iy; YARiEtY: viewi; the new. ycrtr 
witiv the hope iHu^ prevailing .ihternar bit£ernes.s-a^ disagree-, 
ment A^••fthin ccrt.ai 11 branches <>f . aimt.senients.. w|ll soph cxpciitl : 
tKem.'jelv<;.s .aiid adjustmeiifs of d^^ ; reached tlmiugh 

ibnfei^ence and;Aegotiatipnv: -."^ / ; ■ .■ 



He- \y as recently named boordinatoi' 
between ; :U; ; S- preparedness ; actiyi'-' 
ties; and Hollywood. 



.- .-.;.•. ;';; Hollywood, Jari[.-,5;v:: 

, VARiirrT is 35 years old today-^which still rnakies t^ 

^here^s Judy Garland, who recent- r : [y;;^- 

. Been writlhig for this paper -fpr is; weeTt»—to.eeh paying for . this type? 
writeir. for the same; length of . tinie<;..^^^^ . .; 

I; am thrilled the way my fan mail has beeh pbur^ 



ly .aflixed ;-her . signature to a new 
Metro contract calling for $2,000 
weekly for 50. w.eeks, an. income that 
Vill be inateriaily . swelled by radio 
engagements and . p.. a. toursi bpth^of 
Mvhich are. permitted under the ternis 
of her pact. There's Deanha Durbiri, 
who pulls down $2,000 . weekly for 
52 weeks, plus/ a. bonus of $50,000 
. upon the completion of each of her 
three annual pictures,, to '. say noth- 
ing of her. earnings and some $70,000 
each • 12 months from advertising 
tieups. There's Shirley Temple, .who 
collected $185,000 pet; picture for 
three features per y eat. during her 
. last stanza at.20th-Fox and hbw; goes 
to Metro at $2,500 . a .week; 

Buys a Lot of LoUypiop^ 

And the list goes pn ;and on, build- 
ing up fnto f antastic, hiimerals. Jackie 
Cooper,:' doing three annually for 
Paramount. rat« $4,000 weekly with 
an • eight-week guarantee on each;. 
Jane Withers rieceives $2,000 pfer 
week for 40 weeks of. the year from 
20th-Fox, : garners another . $5,000 
weekly during her . annual eight- 
week p.a. tour, . and further iips the 
whole with radio broadcasts and ad- 
vertising tieup fees. Bonita Gran- 
ville: nicks the prpducerg for $750 
weekly, .which isn't exactly pin 
money for an ingenue. 

tiniversars Gloria iean . rates $250 
weekly for 52 weeks per yeairi while 
the same studio's Ba^by Sandy is paid 
$200 per week while before the 
cameras or on call,.;BPth these chil- 
dren, however, average a ^similar 
ampunt fiotri their c»d tieups, whi-;h' 
are mounting with each passing 
month. 

Susanna Foster, Parampunt's teen- 
age warbler; is; on the istudio roster 
_ for ,$200 weekly, how, after av^ta.rt 
W months ago at $50 ; I*inf-s*ized.,.in- 
year^bld .Betty .Brewer receives $75 
weekly,' but she is mpre or less a 
bpginher in pictures. : . , | 

Members of Metro's Our- Gang are 
paid , yarying: amp.iints, with . the 
average ra ting frprh $50 to: $7,5 when 
he or she .works. / Reason for the low 
pcaie'; on : these' cpthics . iS that . the 
(iJahg personriel ;is . constantly .chang- 
ing because of the speed ;\yith which 
Its rnernb^rs grpw Up. ; . 

It . is ;tp /prevent a recurrence of 
the- jeurkie'Gopgah situation that the 
state's lawmakers and '/judges Jt.re- 
(juerttiy "• .tighten, their ^grip; -on. 
cinema's minprs. Jackie' spent, .his 
yopth laboring Under '.the- impressi-.on 
'that he- was ':wofth $3,000,000. as a 
fesult pf his tiarlier. film chbfes, but 
wheii the day of reckoiiing,;;the. .at- 
tairimeht of his majority, came, lie 
awakened: from his .dream 'with 
little m'oj^ei: than $i00.000-;ieft after 
the smoke ^iof ''legal.; vbattle.s. had 
cleared. That,. '' top, , is., practically 
gone now; leaving Jackie littlfe be- 
yond his current wages fop persphals 
and band-leading J pbs; .. 

H*ld Half iti 'Triisit \ 

Under the laws as- they momen- 
fariiy stand, half of' /each minor 
'player's ihcom'e, after deductions fPr 
lhainteriance, attorhiey and agent 




ing in; Ayiell,. hot. exactly pouring— it'is more of a drip. 
, Most conversations; put here . in California start - 
With: 'Very, nice wejather we:once/had,*wasn't it?- 



; Shov4r business" plays top important a rpje in A'mericai|;^| 
for i.ndustry -leaders^n all times that; the. iMihljc 

ihfere?it^'cbmes;lirst:j W h >P- 

lution : to. every' prpblcm of jntra-industry . relationship. . 

' Oy6rseas,'-British shoW't^eh ^re c^ on in the face of nn- 

pdralleled pbstacles; and in'the finest' theatrical tradition.s. ; An 
ihstitutipn which can l>end -with events, and not break, ;h as the " 
resilieiice to survive whatever hardship.s.- :. 



There is de.sperate, crying -rieed for. the theatre; in all its vai 
• It's ijeen raining so much .that a life boat arid pbn- rioUs forms, in a world that seems.to have; lost all tinderstandihg 
tporis are ho\y standard equipment on all automo- of the thoughts, "desires and liopes of' the people iii all hinds,. 

UMie theatre is the great tonvmoa denominator, of mankind^^^ 
sprship and the dictatorial'big-stick may silence, its voice for. . 
time, but peace always.has come to earth throiigh idealismi even 
as war is Avaged' by the iinimaginative. " 



The- only ; cpnsblation people get out of the weather 
is that they had a half-iiich inpre rainfaH in Florida. 
: One Holly wood night club iised'to send its patrons 
home by cab. .Now it : gives you ia; choice — cab if 
you're brave and motorboat if you're cautious. 

"Told Eddie Cantor that I would stay In Holly\yoda as long bS the public 
wanted me. He said: ?Berle, I'll see. you next week in New . York.* 

^few Year's Eye my brother had . trouble with, his glasses-^he had one' 
too.many... ■ ;.'/.■.'.;';' - '-. ' : 

California, police are the most courteous in the world. They wipe your 
windshield before, handing. you a ticket. 

'Broadway- Department ' '' ' ... 

|A11 in Fun/ which had more authors than ai Bob Hope script, W3s panned, 
so badly they should ha.ve called it 'We Were Only Fooling/ 

The New York critics liked 'Meet the PePple,' the sUnkist Galiforma 
revue. > Several of the criticis were in a quandary whether to call Jack 
Gilford (my protege) the. 'last comedy discovery of 1940' or the 'iQrsttoiriedy 
discoyieTy of 1941.' ; •' . .. / _ 

'Pai Joey' is a George Abbott smash hit; arid 'alreaidy tickets are scarcer 
than bouncers at Jack Dempsey's restaurant. 

.Night club New year's Eve reservations were so heavy that ^ Hurri- 
cane management tried to break up Romo Vincent intb a table; for 12. ./ 

deorge White's *Gay. White Way' sounded like, a Benny Davis unit, only 
instead of saying 'And then 1 wrote— ' thie White shoW kept repeiating. 
'And then I produced,' ; . .. ; 

Holly woodiana 

The Earl Carroll night spot advertises 'No Cover,' and Whert you see. the 
costumes the girls wear you realize Carroll is a man of his word. 

The service at the Brown Derby is. excellent, but I think it's going too 
far when they bring the cow to your table if ypu order milk." 

Saw a picture that was So bad the ushers showed you to your; seat walk- 
ing backwards sP they wouldri't have to .see it. ,; ' 
■; When Darryl Zanuck found out how much nioney the: Santa Anita race-, 
track earned last year, he. wanted to let Put his .actors.-and give cbntiracts. 
■ tp: horses; instead. ■ • '/ ■■' 

;. After seeing: me ih' the rushes pf 'Tall, Dark and Handsome/ the studio 
.barber. dared me' to come in for a/shaye. .' ■. . - - ;• ; 

^Saw a: native running down Holly wood Blvd.. to ;buy ."a car. because he 
;i[iadipund.a jiarking space.- .. V'' ■„ 
..; Women drivers/here, are getting more carefuLr '^pw they only drive in 
;satety-'- zones. ;//'.. ■ ' ■;;• -.-'.,' .; ■ ■■-■ r^.:-.^ y ■ 

• Glaci to- see the Dept. of -Justice' step- in on, the'. BIWI-ASCAP battle... . Un- 
derstand that Attorney-GeneralJacksph sings' a pretty good baritone. / , , ; 
.;:•■'> ■..'.:': Itadilo . Dept. ; / -^'-i- 

; Ileard a band play .'l^ark. Eyes', so bad^^^^^^ eye-/ 
::dr,pps on" the arrangement/-. ;-' -'..- . . ' 

' An antique dealei:. made me a magniflceht-ofTer for my radio jokeiflle.: . 
'■•■ 't/'-'^'^;- -'^;;^-' IIan^iiaii; description^' ' 

Ethel Merman: Paria-ma Hpttie' ,X .: Grdcie Fields;-. A .buindle frpin Britain; 
. .; . Ji7)i7riy -jpurdntc: The isriginal nbse^gay. . . -, Ifliili/ Rose; The man'^ith 
the/A,quatcash;.i . , 5a»ntfeLGbldti)i/n;-'rhe;'mari . - v 

Ptservitiow' Dept.-/-'.; ' 
An.'actor ^ put. -here has .;been - married, so Ipitig that . they : ifeld :him f Or ;pb- 
iseryatiohi ''•■/.■ .■'::■■■■. ^:■:•>/.. /■....'■■■,. ';.^ .; . ,;-'■ "•:.::■'' ■, .-'•■ ;,/■;;.; 

; Bihg Crosby; b.biight; ijl of his hprses< a Christrha? present ."•Instead . of; 
shoes, they now wear carp^;siippers.v 

One more . day ql rain and ;:E11. Use my "cellar to go into coitipetiti.on. with 
-Billy ^Rose. „;.;/. '.'.'^ X.' .■ J ' \- '^^ ■,,'.; ^.:: /;-■ 

; ;Maxie RoSenbloom is going east to wprk alt the Hurricane. His ears 

ipok.as if they WeTCin a Hurrican *:• ~ I. 

• Eavesdropped at the Grace Hayes ijOdie:^.'^ Sally; 
"'Riind' in.'a, racoon "Icoat/'- -. ,/,.; :;■.■.-'/ '-.'^ 

Eavesdropped' at Mpcambo; 'He even has a butler to help him into his 
■strait-J^cketv';/ ^ .::■ ';■■;';■•'' '^i?:- ■;.■;•:.-■'. ' X'-^ ^V' 
■/ .;; lyialfver Became pf^----?.; .. ■■- 
yirtdertt O^bonriell . .- . . . . Blackface Eddie. Ross / 
Frawley and Lpuise , Davis Ai barriell ' : - 

Klein. Brothers • .. 6'Hanlon.& .Zambouni 



"\.'arietv is th'ie chrpn icier of show b'lisiness, the. medium, of 
interchange pf ide<i.s among show people. Its policies of inde-: 
pendence. of chanipiohing the causes which it believes are for 
the good of the great^.st number, are as'. vivid, t'bday as when, 
putiined bv.its fpiinder more than a third of a century ago. 

.¥.\RiEfv eKtends/^est wishes for a happy and. an enlightened 
New. Year... ' ■-"'■ 



S. F. FIRE DESTROYS 40 
FEATURES, 70 SHORTS 



San Fraiicisco, Jan. 5. ' 
More than 40 features and 70 
shorts were destroyed in a Are which 
gutted, the Gilboy Film, Delivery 
headquarters ; here the. n ight of Dec. 
30. Most of the prints .were aboard 
two of fpur trucks which were de- 
stroyed. Many . additional prints 
were rendered useless by water. Ex- 
cept, for PfTice furni-shingsi .entire 
loss is believed covered by insurance. 
, Exact amount of product lost isn't 
known, as Metro angrily refused to 
reyeal its "Share, biit Paramount re- 
ported at leaist five features: and 20 
shorts; United Artists, four features; 
Warners, two features,- U shorts; 
Uniyefsal, eight/ featiireg, fpur nei^s- 
reeis; Columbia, fpur features, 21 
shorts: RKO; five features, 17 shorts; 
20.th Fox, -five, features; Monogram, 
three fea'turies,- Republic: and, AU Star, 
one each, :■■'- ''-. :■-'..' 



N. Y. to L. A. 



Neil F. Agnew. ''- 

Howa^'d Dietz. 

Robert M. Gillharii; 
■ Rita\ Hay wpirth. ; 

Benny; Holzman. ,- / 

Conrad Krebs; 
. Jules Levey.'. / 

Anna.Neagle. 
; Her,bert' Wilcox. 

Darryi F. Zanuck.- 



L A. to N Y. 

.Virginia ;)3'rUce. ;: ;.: ; 
. J.' Cheever Cowdin. 
John Ford./ ; ;; . , 
Margaret liayes. . : ' - 
■Grahani.-McNa'mee. '. 
Philip -Merival^JT' 
Lou Pollock.. • :, 
.Mrs. Edward G, Robinson. 
DavidRose. 
J. Walter Ruben. 



Rose Wiil Produce Two 
Fix for Par in London 



•• Hollywood, .lari. .l. 

David Rose, head of Paramount 
production in: England, sails. Jan. 2.'> 
from New York with two completed 
.scripts to resume filming in the 
London studio. 

-Stories are modern version.s of 
J. M. , Bariiie's "The Admirable 
Crichton' and 'Hatter's Ca.stie,' by: 
A. J. Cronin.. • . - ' . ,. 




Trade Mark 'Registered 
F.OUNDF-D BV 8IME .SriiVEliMAN 
TabllNliert tVeeklir by VAKIKTY. Inc. 

.s'lfi 'flfl'verinan, . Preslden.t - 
154 West <6th Street, New Vbrk. N. T-- 

.SUBSCRIPTION: ; ' . 

/Ann uat-.-. ,..', . .110.- : Forttetir . :' .' ill. 
'■'.I hRl,e. .Copied. , . . . , 2S Cei>t« 



Vol. 341 



UO 



vNo. 



INDEX 

Bills . •-'. • .'.-^ ... '• 

Chatter ,. ; ; . . i .; i . . > . 
.Film Reyiews. v;. , , 
House Reviews . , . .. . . 

Inteirriational- News; ; , 
Legitimate . . . . . 

Music ......ii., 

Night diub?..,.. 
-Obituary .^..J. . . ,>' 
; Pictures :,, . . . . . 

Radio . ..i- ...-,.;';;-;'. , ... 
Vaudeville , .... , ... , , 

VARIRTV 
(Publish 



,;-' 159 

.■ : .1.78 [ 
'. "- 24 ' 
i58 
..73-86 
.160-177 
,131-144 
;145-157' 

..-.'... V 178,- 

:;-„;;;-i^.,. 87-130 
;.....;.;.,;';,. 145-1 S;7- 
RADIO 'liiiaKic'roHV 

n ;n . v.; annuBlVy.) ..' 



per copy. -. ■• 

DAII.y VAKliCT* ' 

(Pgbllshed In Hbllywood by 
• pally -Variety, Ud.) ~. 
■ llb'-.a year-^$12. fiirelKh - 



Wedrtesday, January 8, 1941 



Anniversary 



PICTUBES 







8 Mtwiths^ 

Better Than 




POST-MORTEMS OF 1940 

6£ the B'way Nursery 
, By:; Albert, ^tillmah^;':' " 



\ J94d, or Jukebox- Era,. 

' Thpiigh (ipn^^^ by. ber PuieHrier, • .7 

Had .its momient or two .of fiin. " , .: / .. . 

(Pardon ni€ while 1 think of bnc4 .. ' ^ 

That Taylored masterpiece, 'Fantasia/ 
■ . Could have been a little jazzier, ; ; . 
: i)b.h't you think? (Or ^im I raitty?) " : > : 
, Arid I .liked, only part .of 'Panama . Hattie/ 

Despite the sweil; Dii Bpis apparei, 
' Ethel Merman ■.and. Joan Carroll; ;- : . ' : ' / - 

But i; thought the acting of ■ Betty Hutton. A 
.. Had all the spiark of a Willkie' button. . ' ■■ ' 

The humor suflEered from.top. ihuch labbr 

In jack and Freddy's *L6ve , Thy Neighbor*. .: .. 

. "liiformatibiv Please' was -^plMsi ■ 

.' . E?yen when O, lievant was • Wheezing i 
The World's Fair cam* to a close, 

.. But. not the Muse pif, Major Bbw«^^ 

'They played "The Woodpecker Song* till it hurj;.; 
Likewise '"Iliie Breeze and I.' (Advert.) : 
'And Fools Rush In' was cbrtsidered spcko 
By Bregman, Conn and Roccb' Vocco. 

The Sijfth .Averiue Subway opened, and 

So did another , orange' stiand. . 

The hot spot angels still were, squawking. ' 
. The Braiiss Rail strikers Estill were waiking. ■ 
; Billy Rbsfi . niade .a lot of dbughr : 
' Macy held its Annual Chnstmas Show. 

Vaude, still suflering from a bum back, 

Dedded not to stage a comeback. . ' 

.' Thieatre, movie and cafe society 
Renewed, their ^ubscriptipns tp VaiiiktX', 

■ Artie Shaw, after sayihg: 'Never • . 
Aigain!'. was back as loud as ever. . , ■ [ 

• Jack Robbing was crowned th;6 Rhumba King. 
The rise to fame of R. G. swing ; 

r Proved: !in' ill wind spmc go bring.. 
Thanks to the Powers of Hate arid Fear- 
The iaockettes didn't go to France this year, 
Remaining, therefore,; tP enthrall 
•The patrons of The .Music Hall. 

.. Hat Kernp, Frank Tinney and, Einar' Swaa 
. Left a void in passing on, 
: As did America*? great shpwmari. 

The dean bf .the theatre, Daniel Frohman. ' 

While Hey wood. Broim's passing prpved, indefensible 

The rule that hp orie is! irtdispensable. 
: (Men have come' and meri hiav.e gone. 

But Uncle Don , goes pn and on;) 

'The Great Dictator;' which might have been taster, 
. Played at the Capitol and the Astor. ^ 
Arid so did 'Gone With the Wind,' albeit 
I didn't have the time to see it. 
The ASCAP-BMI; affair ■ . ' ' . 
Made^^ burii of 'Jeannie with the 1. h. baiih* 
Benny Goodmanj. exrkilI.er-dil|.er, . ' . 
Was blown ofi the {jedestal by Glenh -Miller; ; 
Bob Crosby lost his sponsor. - Who; got?;. ; 

• - -Mr;: arid .Mrs. Xaviei' . Cjugat. . " . : ;^'. ; 

'All in Fiin*; opened) produced , by S.iUrnart. ■ . 
; (Don't confuse him. pleaiie, . With Stillman.) .. • ■■ 
.-At the Lyceuni Theatre,.'East of .B^way: ; 

'George -Washington Slept Here,' . and others, they say-: 
' Who Wore- the Jlpor out .at La Cpriga? . ; ; ^ . . ; 
. George Abbott .a^ , 

• .i)an Topping . got ;hitched:.tb: Sonja' Henie, . " 

- Each, copping a-cPretty: Penny. ; '. ; ;? . 

■ fevei-y week c.airie another. Gluiz^^ y::' 
ideas are sp scarce in . the radio biz! " , ; /; 

: P.M . was bbrh,.,a publica-tipri-- . ; ;. • 
Supported; solely, by Circulatipn. t ;. ij... . 

• According to the literati, 

;,;'For' Whom the fieli Tblls'- was. hale and heartyj • ; 
;;Ekcee.ding even .the s.ale^ o 
Which had an sippeal-both to 'brows^a apes. 

■ PeSylya, Buddy and Shakespeare, Sill, - v 

Mopped vit Up;at :the;:b.p. tilV 

Watts went nuts for' Bill Sarbyan,. . 

While Wirichfeli .fpurid. hirt^ hipst arinoyiii?. ■ . . 

The Hit Parade had .fewer hits. • 
.:. thinks to the AS(:AP-Broadcast. blitz. 
. Cole PbrVer . sailed for-^I. thirikTT-tM Indies. 
:-iSarn Lewis' took a suite in .Lindy!s. : . " ; 
. Winchell kept' on giying ;orchjds; ■. ' 

The Hch got richer,. ;the . poor: got more kids. ■ 

■ And as for thaV'Tnoment or tu'o oj fun' 
Well, mayhe we'll have it- in '4l. ' 



;$y ;ROy GHARtlEk 



■ With -eight : mbnths yet ;tp go oi? the' 1940-41 season, 
after which seHing-buyihg} under' the; coriserit: decree, 
becomes effective,: the exhibition •;branth ; is generally • 
optiiriisf ic bonperning the: buhopk bh fllin!-: With What 
is yet to cpnie, ;the distributpf s; also arb. Ipokirig for 
highly satisfactory results -from, 

ture;j that are either kliready cbmpieted ; or in preparia-; 
tiony : , . '■■'::: 'S--.- ' ' '': ■ ■ ■ ' 

, Scanning . the release sched^Jes as far aa dates are 
set, - plus taking .into consideration certain pictures that 
are bri their Ayay, the exhibitors a;rid buyers "a^e hope* 
fui- that, all' the ,predictibns. and ' expectations -ribw. eXr 
pressed will pari but favorably.; ■^udgirig:-fllm pn paiper, 
however, is not much; more than a guess, although 
stories,: the producers,- talent, etc., are irtiportant angles 
for . the. buying handicappef in aiddition; to the advance 
reports,, often yery reliable,, that cpme through before, 
■pictures' ^re: sent to market... ' 

. The .iricreasihg .habit bf pre.-releasing pictures .long 
befbre t.hey are nationally available to all. accbiirits ris 
.prbviding hundreds of exhibitors,.not ihjthe pre-releas- 
ing- cblurnn, with a gc)od lirie bn. product .corisiderablir 
in adyarice; in^ addition tb kriowing .what he is. gping 
to get several months ahead, the exhib also is eriabled^ 
to lay plans more effectively, . especially fpr holiday 
.weeks. :- :: .'-: ■■> ' \-.'.-/- .- ' 
. pUring the past month a.-represehtative numbei:. of 
tot)-bracket featiites: hay*, gone but, " spme, on .pre- 
release, and .these,;together with further releases; , make.: 
it appear that the Arst quarter of 194.1 ;is; going to be 
pne of the best experienced in. Ijate years^: . 

•- ■ 'Pktnres.;,- . ■•' r 
. Pictures that get irif b general and wider circulatiori; 
between now and the spring- include 'The Letter,' -'Little 
Nellie Kelly,'. 'Tin Pan Aliej/TTou'll Find Out,' 'Long 
Voyage Hbnie.'^She -Cibuldn't Say No,' 'Coriirade X; 
•No, No, Nanette,' 'Fiight Command,' 'Lbve Thy (Neigh- 
bor,* 'kitty t'oyle/ 'Chad Hanna,' *thlef of Baig- 
dad,' 'Santa Fe Trail," ThisThinis Called Love,' 'Second: 
CHoiius,' 'Hudson's Biyr-'^Victory,' 'Four Mbtliers,' 'Back- 
Street,' 'Mr. and Mik. Smith,' Third Finger; Left Harid,^ 
'Men of Boys Town,' 'Philadelphia Stbry,' 'Too Many 
Girls,' 'Night Train,' 'Flight of Destiny,' 'Virginia^' 
'Cbnie Live With Me,' 'High Sierra,' 'Lil Abner,' 'Citi- 
zen Kane,' 'Western Union,' 'Road to Rio,' The. Invisi- 
ble Woman",' 'Father's- Son' and 'Strawberry Blonde,' 
among others. . 

In addition the niarket Will receive 'Gone. With the 
Wind' on general release, .and Gharlie Chaplin's 'Die-, 
tator," under niodified terrijs; latter; ialsb withput 
specified riiinirnum adriiission - price. ^ Bpth of -these 
are contracted' fbr separately' rather than under sea- 
sbri.al contracts. 

While, the. pictures about which spmething is known, . 
br oh Which some handicapping lines may be. riiadej 
are possibilities; as 'stiffs,' the average bpinioh is that 
the current (1940-41) season is going tb be better than; 
the; pribr year bf .1939-40. ThiSf is despite the fact that' 
many exhibitors ani buyers believe- the '39-'40 film 
ayeraged up better thain in many , seasons, albeit there 
Were disapppiriters. amoTig 'certain expensive pictures. , 
These included a couple of costly war films like i'FpUr 
Sons' and 'Mortal Storm'. Among others that did.hot 
show the. speed that had been expected of them at the 
boxoflrice on the '39-'40 seasbn were 'Of Mice arid Men,' 
'Abe Liricpln in Illinois,' 'Howards of Virginia,' 'Way of 
All. Flesh,' 'Susan and God' and 'Queen of Destiny.'; 

Against them,, however, the pld season' included a 
gpodly" number of strong hits; While fpr ..the appirbxi- 



miate four mphths on the. new film year ('4p-'41),;.th« 
pace .would hreliably indicate that the : flna^^ semester 
. leading up to the beginning bf ;the :cpnsent decree and' 
hlocks-bf-five may strike even ;9 better, average.' ■ , • 

.Spme 'Good^nes' ■ ' .-./-y-^ ... 
/ ;'rhus far bn the: new seasoh hatve been such draws, as 
' 'Jjibrth ;West Mburited Pblice,' 'Arise My- Lbyb,' 'Bitter- 

; . Sweet,' 'Fbfeign 'Correspondent* 'The Letter,' 'Eacaipe,*- 
'Strike Up the Band.' .'Little Nellie Kelly,' "Third Fingeri V 
..Left Hand,' .Tin Pah .Alley,' 'They Knew What They • 

.; Wanted,^ 'Ramparts We Watch,'; 'ppwh Argehtine Way/ - 

:...'Spri,hg Parade.' 'No Time Fbr Cbniedy/ :'City Fbr Cbn- 
quest,'.;'Knute Rbbkne,'; and others of .some lesser, nbte: 
which, however; have earned their _way satisfactprily. 
.Becauise Pf , clearance- schedules: and; other pe'culiat;itie3 
; of the trade,. , including: exhibs Who .allow film; to pile 
up on them for riibhths, all.pf thes^^ Still.have 
a ebnsideirable wayff tb go befoi'e being played off. : 
This sbrtietinnies: /results ibig . pictures;; ; igetting 
bunched bh the playoff, which is no fault of the dis- ; 
tributbr. .but the latter fellows very often; so arrange, 
release, schedules, depiending upon seasons and hPli- 

. :days, sp that a lot- of. the higher-'bracket features faili; 
■ at the ;same ;time. ; ; On other pccasibris there will be 
Iweej*;? of . release wiibre the exhib has little to ehbpse; 
from,. if he playis close tb release and picks, up pictures 

. irnmediately. aftet they are available. Sometimes, also,- 
•there will, be; twice as; jnariy fi^ oh one week of rer .^ 
-lease .than there is- bh.:another; 

' The distribs make an effort to space the big pictures, 
as; judiciously as ppssible but at .times bad iluck pn 
film- rnay ; leave a company without anything of par- 
ticular; value for a month or /more a time.- ; Froducera; 

\ releasing through: United Artists have complained at 
times that the cpmpahy; will havevnbthing for a long 

' Spell and; :then "break but at ;ohce with -several films 
.'bUriched,. '.';.. ■;,:■ ' :./■;■■ :-. 'v'^-.;' • ■ .' ■';..;; 
Pre^releasing has to .some extent avoided the con-; 
fiict which previpusly occurred among the distributors. 

. There; has heeii . more of that . practice during the past 
year ;.thah ever before, partly with a- view on the part 
of the distributors to get more, btit of the pictures^ 
through higher- admissiPns and extended runs. 

The record is held by; Parambunt with; ,'Nortfi West 
Mounted'. The cpmpany started pre-releasing- the film 
a cpuple. of irionthi ago at advanced admissions in all;. 

. engagements . arid is understbod. to have run up the. 
terrific total of 750 such dates^ In doing this. Par alsb 
;. pulled the picture bit fpr any: engagement two Weekis . 
before Christmas,, this in tiirn providing a jiistifiablcs: 
prbtection to the theatre pre-releasing the film at 
.higher scales. - 'Boom "Town' was among other pictures 
pre-released during. 1940 at increased prices, So was; 
'All. This and Heaven, Top.' It is .a policy that will 

. probably extend eyen further, but just hoW it would 
work under the consent decree iS a question at this 

■; trnie.--'- . . . ' ' ,:^- -.- . 

The" diStribs; have,: been .getting extended rtins to an 
appreciable -degree, dur'rig the past year, especially for 
the pictures that deserved added time,:;and likely the 

;- balance of this season will see an even more marked 
trend in that direction under the constant' campaigning 
of the sales forces in wringing all there is out of film. 
Subsequent! run operators ; very bften complain about : 
extended runS up front and bh so-called mbrboyers, but 
the economic fact is that the film companies; must rely, 

-. updn the first runs to such art~ extent that they cannot 
make darigerous' sacrifices thet'e. Anyway,. the second-: 

• run never wilt like the 'breaks' the first run gets, the 
third won't like the advantages bf the guy ;ahead , of 
hirii, arid so bn dowri the line. . Any subsequent; hov/- 
ever, is in; the. positibn where he mUst do the best he 
can; with the film he gets, the; clearance over him, rent- 
als demanded, buying , power, of the opposition, etc. • 
The consent deciree may ease his problem, however. : 




Is 










More; , than ' .2,pop,pOO- A;merica.ns: 
wha have 'ne.ver. been -Uabietbr "Fed;- 
eral income. , tax will file returns'!^ on 
March: 15 for ' 1940 ; earriii^gs.'; Many 
of these, will cbme f rom /the . amuse- 
ment •iridu^tr;y>',,;-- ;; .^" '; ; 

The:' new income tax ;iegislatibn 
enacted ' during. 1940. and retrdaCtive 
tp.Dec; 3X i;9£i9,- lowers the tax j^x- 
eiriptibns^ bf bplh sihgle a>id married 
persbn.s: and greatly- increases their 
tax iates: ;'■ ;'.- ..,;;;■ - 

Bersphal cxeri-.ptibn pf ' a single, 
person has iDccn reduced :froni; $liOpO. 
tp $800, Married pcr.spns .and heads 
of familips win abe allowed, an ex-; 
etriptipn of $2;p00 instead. pf .$^,500,' .;; 

In past ycars ani individual was re- 
quired to file ir his liet iricpme . was. 
$1,P00, if single, arid $2,500 if mar-, 
ried or head pf a family. Under! the 
new: regulatibns, single persons mus!t 



file if their gross Income is $8p0 and 
$i2,000 if married, 

; Surtax rates: haye been, Increased 
in ..all braLckets from $6,000 and :UP, 
Tax rates o.ri nPn-r&sident aliens has 
been increased tp 15.%. It was fpr- 
merly.ip.9i. ,' '; .' 'f . ;. . ' ;- 
In addition;tP :tfie. Jhcrease In npr^ 
fnal' taxes for 19.4j0, a special defense; 
tax called, a; 'siiperrtax' arnpunting to 
10%; is supeririiposed. ;. Where - th? 
normal ;tax is $100,. 10%,. br $ld is 
'added; ;' . - ■ ;•; ■'>,■ ■;.' • Vv;' 
' .The folip-wing table; will give sbme 
idea pf,;the increases foir 1940 over. 
1939- Increases .Wrige frbrti 60% Jo 
.205%.';;;. .V-'... ^' v.v'^ 

■ iifet -■. ■ y .'';'i:sLx: ;'w'hat-^ou 
Income . ;Pa.id In . . will psy 

1940 . 193i9 in mi) 

$ .l,OiOO : • . . Nbrie ; ' $ ' 4.40' 

: 2,000: . . ,;$> 32 ,' . r 44.00 
3,(700 : . . 68 83.60 
' 5,000 •:• 140 : . . ; . 171.60 

;. 7,0P0;; . ,: 292 . ; 343:00 

9,000 464 558.00 

12;00p -: .762- - • .. 968.00 

:15,000 . 1 ;l 04 -V ■ 1.476,20 

25,000 ; .- 2.11104. . . ■[ 4,252.60 

NO FUN FOR HEE ■ 

" V /: , - ; . Hpllyw.opd, Jan.. 5c 
. 'Charlotte.' Green-wood ' drslW.s,; . a, 
straig.ht acting role in .'Miami, - Tech- 
riicplor musical, at 2.0th-Fc!x. . ; 
1 Filrriing starts in: thVee; Weeks, .with 
■ much, of the shooting slated for- 
.| Florida.' : ■ : 



WRIGHT TO HANDLE VS. 
SUIT VS. inTLE THREE' 



.Rpijert L. Wright, Special assistant 
to the ;y. ■ S; attbrney-general, . will 
try the Gpyerhmept's, ahti-trust. suit: 
agalhst ColuVnlJia,;Uniited Artists and 
Universal, ;Which 'is scheduled. tb get 
under way in N. Y. F^ederal . Court 
in the spring.; James V. Hayes, Who 
had . replaced Pauriyiiliams as head 
of the Goyernrpent's : .prosecution 
staff,;; and vWhp ■^yas mpstly; responSr 
ibie for !the consent dbcrele With the, 
five; produCer-exhibitbrs, will nibt.Jbe 
associated -with ' the . film any 
more. : ■''•.•-■ >■ 

!. Of .the briglnaV'Gpverhmept staff, 
W'rtght,: Seymbiir;: Simon, John F, 
Claggett, ; J;; Slepheh Dbyle '■ and JV 
Frank.'Gunriirighanri are all that are 
left;iri' the film, suit Whb will be as- 
sociated With the; -triai of the jactibri 
against the 'little three/' . 

, The. Go.vernment expects to get, 
its. suit started agaiijsf the : trio, by : 
May at tiie latest. It was stated by 
a- representative, that the bept; bf 
Justice ieels : that despite the fact 
that Cplumbia) UA and U haye virr 
tually fold it they will seek to: delay 
the trial, that Judge: H'*nry Warren 
Goddard Will; not look too kindly at 
?i delay, arid will force a trial before 
sumiDcr.;/ • 



n PICTURES 



Anniversary 



Wednesday, Jahuary 8, 1941 









Time 



By GROUCHfO MARX 




I don't remcinb'er the ;n'ame of the tp\^'n, - I think it was Burlirigt'dn, 
Iowa. But' it could have Cifedar Rapids, Sioux City, . Pecatur, Jt 

doesn't malce rtuch dillerericb; They wei-e all hokey-pokeys, arid I giies?. 
they still are. I remeiinber ' the name of the .rhariager> it was Jack Ftoot.. 

; \; ,. At Qiie time.lhe. was . heavyweight or light-heavy; 

weight champion of the world.; He had Ijeateri Mar- 
vin- Hart .'at , F6rt; Erie, and ~ af ter ; hie ; retired, . or g:o't 
knocked .; oUt, ' wh ichever it was, he" became matjager 
and (i think ).: also - the- owhet : of this: ,tf\|2tre- 

This .was part ol the Westerd yaud^viUiB chain,; ^ 
comprised a group of motheateri theatres from ^botit 
where Mozart ended and Pantages began. We. were 
doing a tabloid, eight men and 12 girls, a carpenter 
and musical director. We got $900 for the Whole 
setiipi, unless it -was;, ai cut-.week.- - it. i^ the week 
before Christmas, and • I felt pretty :.happy that Mon- 
day morriihig as I. walked into, the stage door to rehearse the orchestra. I 
had on my btartd hew Foreman & Clark suit, a black velour hat* a pane,- 
and the best 5x: cigar money could biiy. I strolleid to the mailbox to see. 
if that redheaded dame from Bloomingtpn had answered my letter. Sud-; 
dehly, a bUrly ligurci lobnved out of the darkrtess t(hd pointing a finger :at^ 
me said; 'That'll cost ybu.\$5, .Don't you see the sign? It.sjaJrs,.'No Smok- 
ing'.' It was so. dark r not only cbuldn't see the sign.M could barely, 
see him. ■ , ■ . . ' ,■ ■ ■ ; 

He'd always been, ia nice.kid. The tales of. Jack Root in' Burlington were 
legendary. Th6 performers: were all : on to hirh and afraid of him. He 
Was a tyrant and big enough to back up anything .he, wanted to impose. 
Now $5 was a lot of money; It was a day's salary for me, and I didn't 
intend to relinquish, it without a struggle. ■ The music rehearsal over, 1. 
wei>t "back to the hotel' and woke up the boys. We held a council ofwar, 
end decided that linfess he consented to rescind the fine, we wouldn't , go 
©n. ! The curtain, was scheduled to go up at 2:30: At. two o'clock we were 
»11 in the cellar ih our dungeons, then humorously called dressing rooms; 
We got into our stage clothes, slapped on our makeup,, and then sent, for 
Jack Root. We w.erien't afraid of him. . There were f Our of us. We were 
y^oung and full ot: belli and. we had a trunkful of blackjacks. A heavy 
knock on the dressirig robrti door, and there he stood, the former heavy- 
weight champion of - the world. Chico, the oldest, acted as spokesman. 
Taking a firm, grip on himself he said, 'Mr. Root. .Unless ypu cancel that 
tS fine, there ain't going; to be no show. We're not going on/ 

Root said^'I have a iiile in this theatre, NO SMOKING ALLbWED; I 
caught your brother, Groucho, smoking and I fl.ned him $5. That's the 
law of this^^ theatre, and it stands.' 

Chibb hollered out to . the company, 'OK everybody. Take off your 
makeup and costumes. We're leaving.' 

By this time the. overture l^d.heen played and a packed house (w6 al- 
ways were a draw , in Iowa) were beginning tO; stamp their feet. Root, 
was ? big. bully, and he Jcnew we had him» 

•No, wait a minute lioys,' he pleaded. 'Ypu icant* do this to me, Til 
have to refund all the .money at the. boxoftice.' ' :. 

We answered, 'As long as the fine stiands, we don't go On. NoWj take 
your choice;'. . . , 

We were bluffing; too. We couldn't afford to lose the four days' .salary; 
$500. Thien Harpb, the Chamberlain, of his time, spoke up. 'I'll tell, ypu 
what,' he- said, *We'll pay the $5, if you pay five, and we'll take the $10 
and throw it in the Salvation Army pot on the corner. 

Rather than. Ipse the afternoon's recbipts, ROot yielded and the show 
vent on.' ' . . 

We were leaving Saturday night for bur next jump, and from the time 
the last night's shoW was over we had a margin of about 40 minutes to get 
dressied, pack, get to the depot, and chieck our baggage. When they brought 
the salaries back, it came in four big canvas bags, each one containihg 
$125 in pehnies, and each bag had to be counted. We barely made the 
train, and as it pulled put of the depot we, wished on Root every curse foiir 
yPung fellows could think of, including the Scandinavian. We even hoped 
his theatre Would burn down. Twb weeks later it did, and tp the ground. 

Ah, thpse good old vaudeville days. 



Also Pleiily of $100,000 

f J^O^OOp Piciiires, 
Although Prograiri As 

a Whole Still V^gii* 
By MOAK 




! Hollywood; Jan. -5.-. 
Shriveied f oteish yeyehues, an.aeirtlc 
domestic '. grosses and the . general 
confusion;, generated by . the 'big 
five's' signaturing of the cpnsent..dbr 
cree, to say, nothing, of America's: 
own. epidemic of war' jitters, have 
combined to throw a gigantic . mon- 
key-wrench into thie - business . of 
drafting .1941-42 productibn slceds: 
While; thC; dawn! of a.- new' year usu- 
ally, flindsstiiidio chiefsAmore or iess 
dSSniteiy. set as to; What stories will 
be induced pn the bnsuing season's 
slate, they are today as far frorh a 
decision as they were six months agp. 

Only three things - appear certain 
as. this, is written. They are: . 

1.. 'T.hat shooting skeds will b« . the 
mpst flexible ever adopted by the 
talker, industry, with the. vehicles 
beir^g docketed from -week' to week 
as the- stanza advances, , this per- 
miitting : producers tp keep: ; inore 
closely, in step with' changing^ public 
tastes in screen rnaterial, 
. .,2. That , actipners, ihusicab and 
straight cpmediies, with many in each 
category backgrounded agaiilst the. 
U, S. Army, Navy and Air . Corps, 
■will pre^oininate the lineups. 
V 3. . That 1941-42 will, go down in 
cinema annals as the 'year of the. 
great exiperiments'— experiments in 
plot formulas, in lensing and sound 
recording method.s, and in extremes 
in budgets, Vvith each of thfe majors 
turning out a group pf $100,000 to 
$150,000 pictures to travel alongside 
their $l,00b,000-or-mor€ oflEerings. 
Actloners and Tunert 

; Sagebrushers' six-shooters, infan- 
trymen's rifles, artillerymen's can- 
non, dreadnaught's big guns and 
aerial bombs will contribute toward 
making 1941-42 a rip-roaring year. 
Then, too, there'll be the vocalizing 
of a horde of warblers , to further 
noise up the. silversheet. ' 
' Every study W'H \ean heavily on 
western films, ^oirte of which will be 
played .straight and some for. laughs, 
but all Of them aimed to give the- 
atregoers their fill of hard ridihig and 
dense powder sipoke. Responding to 
Uncle Sam's plea for aid in enrolling 
the general public behind the na- 
tional preparedness; drive, these 
same lots will also push fprward a 
flood of pictures carrying, martial 
atmosphere. Besidcsi there'll be an 
butpouring of tunefilms and stand- 
ard-type comedies to . help satisfy 
the growing appetite for escapist 
fare;- 

) It used to be that players gradu-^ 
ated from boss operas to drawing- 
rpom vehicles, but the new histrionic 
educational method seems tb.be the 
reverse. Trend that put James Stew- 
art, Robert Taylor, Franchot "Tone, 
(Continued oh page 20) 



pitatidii^ 



By TOM GORMAlV 
{iUiduieai Bislr(ci MaimQcr f6r ftKO 



CANi FIRE MANAGER, 
ASK ARBITRATION 



Lakewood Anius. Co'fp., operators, 
bf the Strand ' and: Palace theatres in 
LakewoPd,: N.: J.,, will apply to the 
N. y. suprbtrie court ; tomorrow 
Crhurs;): to apppiht . two - arbitrators 
and one umpirb in a dispute between 
■ it, -vand .the manager- of . the theatres, 
Batney Fbrber, whom it- seeks to 
discharjge, . Under terms of . a five- 
year contract at $2^954 ybarly which 
was signed with Ferber . Aug. 18,- 
1938, it could hot discharge hiin un- 
less with -the {consent; of Dr. Henry 
Brown and Mbirry Schulman. 

On i)bc. .9,: 1940, after an exbhange. 
of letters, the latter refused to con- 
sent to the dispharige of Ferber and 
has corisisjtently refused tp agree to 
ariy of the dozen arbitrators pftered 
by Lakewood, . who . have also rer 
jected the . four hien proposed by 
Schuliirian. ; The pourt is therefore 
asked to. settle the dispute by ap- 
pbiriting the; arbitrators. . ; ' \ 

'■ " :. 'SI-. ' ■■■ . .. ■ 

Hunt Yarn for Betty 

; Holly wood, Jan. 5. 

Betty Field' takes leaVe -Of Broad- 
way for a brief stanza ; to make a 
picture , at -jParamount; She - checks 
In .May 1. • 

Studio is Hunting a yarn. • 




^V. '■" ■ ■■ ; Chicago, Jan. 5. 

Bill it like 'Exploit it to the nth degree!' 'Give it every- 

thing!' ■ :"\v:; .■;^:- -y r-. .;■-. \ ' ■ • ■ 

How. pften one hPars tliese; exclamations in the pLcturb' business. ;Par-/ 
ticularly frbhi; people who have never been .connefcted with a circus and 
probahly think a *razorback' is some sort of an anirtial-,.'and 'hod bf paperf 
is used to roll one's own cigarettes, ■ - ' 

I In; the, field b pir whatever one wishes to term it, iri^te^d 

I of the miisboiiceived idea that consistent;publicity has been secured fbr the 
. .circus by loud and blatant methods, it shPuld be realized that space in the 
daily papers, magazines, -etc.; has been Tsecufed.for so many successive years 
[ only by the fapt that .circus press: agents 'Were men who ;nhade invaluab^^^^^ 
contacts year, after year; .men whosie arrival in advance of the annual,touT» 
pf Ahe .sawdust .operas was ariticipaied- by eyeryohe they cPhtiacted;. These 
acquaintariceSj theise friendships ;;were never . Bbused. ' . .V : 

; In other Words; ;w;hat the writer- wishes to call attention to, . is that' film 
companies sending lexplPiteers' put into the various tbrritories . in hiany- 
cases miss the target by a wide margin.- So ihanyjimes these rneriiafo 
cn short assignments,, typical 'First-of-Mayers' in every sense of the word, 
•who are goih^ to show, their boss in New .York, who possibly has never 
been in the town, -what they can abcomplish.. In the first place, the theatre 
;;mariaget in . aiiy town has established fHendsfiips and coriiiections' with thk 
press by hard, diligent wprk, He ; knows .what.^ thb papers . w:^nt: and. ■will 
accept.: Hb; plays golf with .the dramatic editor, has sPcial. contacts; yet,>. 
so often wlierix the gentlerilen ass.ignbd by the various vpictUre cbmpanies!-' 
arrive in the town, possibly, for the first time, they .immediately attempt 
to. dictate to the theatre manager what .kind of copy to use,- what method 
of explpitation . to. empiloy, and; tell him how they knocked them dead itt 
Oshkosh the week before; This leads to a very; uinhapipy situation,. -IMir; 
Johnny Newcomer expioiteer can; undo in ^o day' ih a town what .it has 
taken a theaJte mainagerL months and- months to /establish. ■ . . 
. Every company representative" knows, of course, that the film: he r€pre- , 
sents isfhe biggest and best ever -to play the town, and sets forth the most 
extravagant claims forVthe attraction despite the fact. •that the theatre 
operator, who: can both , read and write, knows that the. film, everywhere- 
preceding the coining engagement ih his theatre has been a bl^kjihbr. Now, 
if Mr. Theatre Manager has the confidence of his press, and other .people 
he contacts; for exploitation purposes; why should he not be honest and 
.not go oyerboardi at least not: extravagantly. 

If there is any industry, that is oversold it is our business, which sells 
everything in the, same ,(fxtrayagant way. ."Theatres are happy to share, up . 
to, an equitable amount/ with the. companies in extra advertising cost, but 
the local theatre manager -or operator should certainly be the most bapable 
.iudge bit .the amount, of space, that .will be effective in his territory, bjr 
rather in his situation, 

The Other Side 

There 'is, of course, the other, side of the situation, sometinies justified, 
in which the theatre operator doies riot give the support to a picture, that 
he should, but because of these unfortunate circumstances the onus . should 
not be placed oh all theatre operators. 

That the readers may not be led to believe that this writer is an 'Adam 
Sowerguy' type of manager or, publicist, let the -writer state that somei of 
the filnV companies have secured the services of some of: the outstanding 
press agents and showmen Pf . the country. . Never with - pirgariizatioris thiBit 
are inanned by such capable people does the theatre operatpr experience ; 
any difficulty. It is the Broadway-minded type who have never ;trouped: 
who cause irritation and vexation to theatre pperators.! 

Huge ads can be pui'chased and everyone can send in tear sheets and 
say that, they made a whale of a showing, but the writer, is flrmiy cbn- 
vinced that so much -more is accomj^lished . by the cleverr experienced :press 
agent who pilants his stories, -effects tieups with radio stations, etc., and 
principally, does it through his efforts and not with a large expenditure of 
money. In many situations the theatre managers havb been able to effect 
radio tieups with local stations On a trading, basis, equitable and helpful 
to the station and the theatre, and which do . not call for .any grbat 
moniEtary expenditure on the theatre's part. . So Mr. Exploiteei- decides 
that they should immediately spend quite a; large sum with the xadio sta- 
tion to put over his picture. ^ 

Putting Mariat^ers on Spot 

Now, that's all fine, but how can Mr. Theatre Manager :;gb back to the 
radio station to secure publicity through a mutual tie-rup .without spending 
money after this precedent has been set? "These are the tieups that theatre 
Pperators must, protect,. This is another illustration of tearing down in. a 
short while that which has taken long; hard, diligent work to establish. 

Many new lines of exploitation have been introduced, but when it is all; 
said and done they all revert back to the old solid fundamentals. It is the 
same as the dramatist who wishes to construct a new play; only a limited 
I number of plots or situations are at his disposal,. So it is with exploitation 
stunts. Many of the oldest ones can be revamped and proven to be the 
most successful. The main thing in the writer's dpitiion is to establish, the 
'entente cordiale' with the newspapers th^t are, when all is said and done, 
the means of either making or bireakirig your campaign, arid one should 
never abuse their cbnflderice. . \ . 

The writbr is^^ery. happy to reriibmber on one occasion that one of the 
film critics here in Chicago called me on the phone and said 'Tpm,, I want 
to see your picture tombrirpw. riibrriing because I want .to give ybU the 
Sunday spread.' . I, replied, 'You don't want to review my picture; thb. pic- 
ture coniirig into the. 'Blank' theatre is a knockout and will give yPU a 
great story; It is a. terrific picture,; and mine, . I'm" s^^ is quite;, 

ordinary,' ■ ; ■ : . ' ' ':■ 

Thb critic; said* 'Just a .minute,'; turned, aside to repTesfntatives of the' 
theatre- iri . which the picture I recpmmendied ■ was to play, . and ihfoirmed: 
them what I had !said, and iifterWards told me that she suggested that.this 
would be an excellbnt; example for thiem tp follow.. 



.■■■•V.-rtV. 1 wW'A-.<S- 



PETE SMITH 



COMMENTATOR-PRdbUCER 
Who tpda^y cbmpleles his one hundred arid fiftieth short for M; G. M. 



Mrey's 13 Fwto 
And 13 Shorts Plans 



.George S. Jeffrey,' veteran, dis- 
tril)ution official who has formed his 
own producing - distributing com- 
pany, plans 13 features and 13' shorts 
foj. this year's release independently; 
■fhe first is 'Cavalcade pf Faith,' a 
docurn.entary, which .also' hias . Span- 
ish language- arid Italian- -versipns. 
It. was made partly^ in RPnie • arid 
partly in South America. 
. Jeffrey was for -many ye!ars ,-with 
Paramount, United Artists: and other 
companies : in Important sales ca- 
pacities. ':I{yi: is president and gen- 



1? 



for Oberon 



Hollywood; Jan. 8. " 

•Merle Oberon has been ,sbt , by- 
Warners .for the top f emme 'spot in 
^Affection.ately ' Yours.' . Male Inr • 
terest is Dennis Morgan... . : 

jLloyd Baton i^ directing, and'. Hal 
B. 'Wallis supervising the , productioh. 



eral. manager- of Jeffrey Pictures 
Corp., which has been incPrporated ' 
at Albany, Robert E. Mclnlyre is 
v.p.. and sales manager,, while AlJyn 
Butterfield, v.p. and production mah-/ 
aigef. was for many' years -with Unlr 
versa!, M. E, Jeffrey is; treasurer 
and Lee Kugel, ad-publicity man- 
ager.- ■ 



Wednesday^ Januaiy 8, 1041 



ThiHy/ifth J^fjlETT Anuiveraary 








By tlAVm BINVON 



I sawf Broadway for. the first tim^ in' 1927 as a /supposedly 
Worldly - VjtRierv ipug^/- .The strain 61 iacting "that part csin ' 
never. -be pu'iliv^. : :T^ are io: many things 1. don't Syarit 
;ta (orget: . •; : l'-^: ■ ■ --'y::' : ■ ' ■ r'':.;.-- 

llie/. pight, for , instance,' that /'I xfe^ . 
viewed iny flirst . legit. ',It: was. a lousy • 
. little, show and ,1' walked, from the the- 
:'. atre toward the . Vauicty oifiicie. anxious . 

to stairtva devastatingly witty review; of 
• the flqip. Soriiehody /whistled behind ine, 

so i stopped , and- waited. It wis Walter . ' 
:;Winchell;' ■ .;• .' ■ ■:; , 

'HpW; you gopna handle it?' he aiskecl. 
. ., 'Just rip into it;'.. I guessed,, pleased 

ijy. his Curiosity. ' '. .' - . . 

•Xhe guy vvho wrote that show,' Said .Winchell... 'came SOi^ 
•liiiliis. to .see' it open, but he missed .ifc . He's.'? .T9., and the 
■^xfcitment hit him so hard he. couldn't leave his hotel r6oni. ' 
And every cent his family had was put into' that: shpw ti. 
make his. di-eam come true.^ 
. I swallowed.' 'That's tough,' I said, 
^Let's ftot make it tougher,' Winche^^ 
; I went to Stmc .and told him the facts,: .!Do whatever ybii 
Want," he said. ■'. .. ■[':."■' ':-iC. 
■ ^My debut as the newest and best of the deyastaling critic; ■ 
•was postponed,: , My ; .revieW. might have been -"w^^ by 
Elsie Dinsihore; But Simc pV^ 




' ' ■ .Siga of. :the;<)ffice: Cat'.. \ 

There was pet cat. Vviiich wandeied througholiat .. thj. 
Varjety building. It lived on; mice and- hamburger and haci 
a fondness fo;-, of •■ all guys, . old iron-puss Pulaski. (I.bee); 
One nig)it Arthui:' Caesar dropped in to riegale whoever 
would listen to the latest humor from Caesar; InUhe ihidst; 
of. an animated y.ecitation he stripped ■ oil the cat and cirushep 

■the' life''-frc)in. -it;'- :- . '''" .;\ .. .,.-•■''-/■':. .■ "• •■ '.^' . '•■-' . 

' We- air looked at PMaski, Pulaski look:?, at .Caesar. For. 
the first time in his' life Caesar didn't fini^^^ He 
walked out hurriedly. ' \. :,;•' ./. v. . 

' From.Bnrleycue to.^^W^^ 
The crash, had happehe'd and things istill ' w^re tumbling • 
about us as Sy d. Silverman assembled the ;various Wall Street 

■ and Broadway reports into the lead .story for page one; All' 
of us were at the print shop arid Syd asked for hfelp in writ- : 
ing a head for the crash story. I submilled 'Wair Street. Lays 

-■ Ah Ege,' and Syd used it. What's mole, he congratulated me. 

' What I've never mentioned 'till, now is that earlier in the 
week, for the burlesque' page, I had written a head for the 
failure of burlesque m some theatre, ; 'Burlesqoe Lays an 
Eff,- it said.. Frantically 1. searched the' prpp.fs to change 
that head before press tiine. I couldn't find it^until the 

■paper .was on tlje stands. And there it was, right- in the 

/middle of the burlesque page,' . 

; Fortunately npbody was reading .burlesque news anymore. 

, fix-Legman ;. ':■;''.■...•';''■- 
Pissatisfied with the amount of news 'being gathered, ^irnr 
birdered all of iis to give him a list . of . - news sources.. 
Later he posted them; ' . . 

I. was the talic of the office, " I had oiie inews : contact— a 
producer of stobit playS, I waited, for niy diismissal, . 
. Siine took me. oft the street and put me on' the- editorial 
desk.. ■ •.- '^ . .• V ■■■ ':■'■.; r 

.: After I liad served my Stpprenticeship, SIme told nie 1 could 
have a Sigriatui'e for my reviews. I chose Bingo. Simc told 
me to use one with foiir letters, so I compromised with; Bing, 
;'rhen Bige (Joe Bigelbyu-) got his first chance tb review a big 
' show and it . appeared in Variety over my signature. Bige 
squawked and .Sime changed Bine to Bflinfir,' 

Causie and. Effect 
We'd put the paper, to bed Tuesday afternoons and then 
retire to a downtown speakeasy for nourishment,' Every 
Wednesday morning, without fail, I'd wake upi with a split- 
ting headache. And all I'd ever had was a mi.xture of beer 
and ether,. 



; Confidential Hits 

As the theii music leditor, Abel Green, gave .me phonograph 
records he'd, reviewed , and didn't vv;ant,.;My wife and I used 
to wonder ..Why nobody knew the songs >'e humined. ; ' 

;:'',;■;■■• . ;■.' ■'■."■!'.■ ''Moral..; ■.•'■•;.' ;;. AV: 

. There - was that yoiing mugg from Canada .(\vhat was hi? 
htaie?.) [Mori iCrashen-^Ed.J who, in his review of .a vaudc^: 
yille-biil, said that ..the guy with -'the red wig . in the acrobati 
act wasn't fbbiirig anybody with his female impersonstioh.. 
Th«. whole -act barged into tlie office ihdigi^ntly. .. Y th. 
.guy rwith the ted. wig w^s. a 'woman. 
I learned early, -N^ an a.qrpbdti - "'= •' . , 

v'':;.-^. :. .duiiiy'. '^>';"''^^ ■■'.■ ■- ■ •', '■. 
; The'" vaudeville "and night .clu.b ':trip of . -Clay tPri, . Jackson:, 
and Durante put j)ickets in frorit of . VahietV . builfiing in 
protest against the sheet's description of iheit act, as: '.'Ipusy:" 
■VARIETY reiterated' the ciiarge arid, the act. finally pleaded 
'■SVimy. ■;',-:.' 'V;-'.v---'... .'^ ■'-•'.■;::■ •. ■.■■•>,; 

At;le^sV;it:gave':the..]^ickets;;^^ :\':-). 



■ ' '. Pagllacc.I .N'ote..- ■■■ '.■.•■'.''.■ ■ 

The VARiETYMjuildirig nestles against the rear of Locu"s 
. State; arid the advent Pf talking piGlures,. into that theatre 
-;Vv.as; a real tragedy, to the Variety miiggs; .,' • . ' , : , 

... Pbrie-^and possibly ibrevei:-^was .the s.weet. prgiri. music 
■Vvafted..iiito the gents' 'rbpm,:: - :' ■. :, •'„;■ ..■/ 

' \J. 'Surefire Toiich '.-;'' •■.:'i :. •■ 

: , There was that bum who used IP w^i ft in front of the 
Office for his daily handout : from .SimC. . When Siiiie -was 
(CbntinueJ Pn page 8^ .. - . 



'Bill, You and Slim Go Tliataway, Me 
and Sani'll Take the Short Cut and 
Head 'Em OIT—Mesa MeU^^^^^^ 
.^;V^l'h^•dugh.• 3^ Tears; . 

(UTiijJcrsal pjrbdiiecr, rohb hd4,;.b'een -d.irectiw^ and producing 
,; Sogcbrusfiiers for 30 yiari^) ■ v ■ 




Book PublisHer 




By BEINNEtT A. CERjp 
(President of Randoin House) 



\ ,V:" /' V .Hollywood, ■ Jan.. ..B. ' 

. If nothing else were needed to stamp Thpriias. Alva ■Edisbn. 
a genius, the fact that he invented the western picture should 
be enough. .••'' ' -■' ; ... : -'^y . 

Edison didn't know he -was inventing an; art form when he . 

made it. He was too concerried with 
his experiment to give much thought to . 
. . \vhat he was starting. : He was attempt^ . . 
ing to tell 'a stbry via mbtion piotureSr^" 
something that hadn't: be:eri .dbne .-before.' 
: The : •picture v^as, of - cpurse^^ .-'The. 
^Great.Trairi Robbery,' riiade in 1903. It ' 
Was the .first • dramatic rivotibn picture 
- ever filmed in America, and, unerririg- 
ly, Edison had selected a plot: form that 
: was to >ridui:e for ages.- ■ 
For 'The . Great Tr;ain B^^ : 
present-day western-rKir, ^perhaps, ;! should say the present- 
day western contains the Same elements that were in . 'The 
Grea^t- Train Rpbb.ery' -, Guns, , horses, shooting; -action, ad- 
veriture^the screen iiasn't anything to. compare With' that 
formula when it . comes to - dowririglit ;^ntertairim^^ 
.boy from 6 to 60 loves a horse; a gun, the moyeme^ 
. excitement, the thrilling chase.. A .stagecoach: drawn by- -12 . - 
i hbrses, gallbping along, a. . rpbfcy road, .with the - bandits in , 
.t;los,e pursuit---thiat's sbniiething. I- love it ihyself .and: n^yer.; 
lire' ;pf' seeing Jt pn the screen. . .' '•;' 

■ . 'Broncho; Billy' and King Baggott 

Two meri, actors :; in The Great T^ain Robbery,' were des- 
lined tb becoriie famPu.s in the mPvieS. . One, 'Brbncho Billy' 
(George M,) Anderson, - became • the screen's - first western 
star.. . The-.other,. King .Baggptt, became one pf the movies'. 
first dramatic leading men arid, Iktfer, a' director , of western ;. 
pictures. Artipng- others, he directed William S. Hart— TwP- ; 
Gun Bill-T-in 'Tumbleweed.' ' 

' The pattern of western hero set by Broncho Billy also has 
: endured. Dashing, heroic, twp-fisted, he waS a flghtin! 
buckaroo. When Brbnchp Billy-galloped to the rescue, with 
he nickelodeon piariist drurriming out 'Pony Boy,' Pony Boy,' 
it was the big thrill of the early, days of . the cinemas ^ 

Tom Mix' appeared on the scene along about 1910.: He 
Was a real westerner. He came oiit of Oklahoma with a, 
bunch of Indians in tow, and reported to. the bid Selig Poly- 
scope studios, in Chicago. The Indians , set up . a camp on 
Irving Park Blvd., hear the studios. When Selig gave 'Mix 
his first check for $50, his first week^s .sailary. Mix thought ; 
there was .something crooked about the whole .deal. He had 
supposed- the. quoted salary, $50, was on a monthly basis. 
Col. Selig had to talk fast. arid convincingly to. prevent cow-;: 
puncher Mix" ftbm high-tailing it. back tp- Oklahoma, away 
from , a business of such suspicious nature that it . could pay 
a cowharid a month's salary for a week's work. 

Two-Gun Bill Haft waisn't a westerner.: Bill was a stage, 
player, and he got his initiial movie experience when he came 
vyest to play in the screen version of, 'The Sqiiaw Man,' a 
role he had played on the stage., Cecil- B. .DeMille, directed ' 
the movie version, arid; it was the screen's first 'big' western. 
Bill's 'Two-Gun' sobriquet was fastened to him because he 
was the first big western hero to wear his guns in pairs. 
Gary Cooper, Will Rogers, et' ali 

There always have been current western herpes. Fred 
.ThPmpson was a great-one -In his' day. Gary. Copper got his 
.start in westerns and made another of the 'biggest of its 
. kind'— The Virginian.' Will Rogers -was a Western star ;al-. 
though he didn't play the dashing buckaroo character. Will's 

• westerner Was a 'rural philosopher- But Bill cPiild rope bet- 
ter than any western, actor who ever lived. He was the . 
world's champ. . . . - 

And there was Hoot Gibson, Jack Hoxie,, jHarry Carey, 
Keri Maynard and a host of others,. We've got 'erii today- 
Buck Jones, John . Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Dick Foran. 
Gene Autry, Roy Rogers— arid the. western is going stronger 
than ever, packing them in from New York's teneriient dis- 
tric- theatres, down to the: once-;a-week houses along the Rio 

.Grande, and in theatres from coast to coast and border, to 
border,- and in foreign lands where never a -cow -rpony has: 
grazed a lariat thrown or a calf branded., England and 
France and the Continent are (or were) crazy about them ; 

' uritil' crizicr •things started to happen; they're the: ; favorite 
form pf movie' fan's entertajririlerit in Japan. South Amcr- : 

.ican senbrs and'.'gauchbs, VMexican. '^eons and hidalgos and 
the fans in the Antipodes love 'em.,' -The Chinese, Malays 

. aiid the .East Indians dbri't care so much about them though;: 

.. They're /a -tpo.-p.eaceful face,--I guess. : . '.v.^ -. - . .. ; - ', ■ ■ . r ;. 
Stars have come frbrii westerns to -straight dr.arriatic. ptc-. : 

, tures and at least ^woi Richard . Dix arid Bill Boyd, have 
reversed the .process, going irohi straight vdrama:-to we^ . 
pix. starred in, 'Cirijarrori'. Boyd is- riding the: western' mov|e : 

/trails as Hopalong Gassidy. v : ; 

. plenty of now-high -powered directors have swung a mega- 
phone in the. mesquite directing westerns— Wdody" Van py.ke, 
George- 5eitz4 jack Fbrdi .GePrg.c ,M Alan Dwani and ; 

. Frank Lloyd, aniohg. others, it : was great trainii^^ibi' them. 
They Icarried. to . paicic < a -lot .of action : in,to small footage. 
Even today tiiere's iriote action- and less, dialog, in a .western \ 
than ih' "any other, form of screen enterfainmeht. ; .. 

': Western Ideals Haven't Changed \ - 

; "The original fbrrnat for the w'estern hasn't changed much; in ; 
30 -years., Th'e-hero .is-.alhletib, fofc,efUl..-.vigprbus. and. dbm : 
riant'. - He: is geritle with, hi.s hbss- and, his .Avorii'eri- folk. :. He'- 

• must riot smoke, drlnk,''ah'use 'women br ariimals'.' He. nvustn't- ' 
.. shoot to- kiil-^only. to vCpund his opponent, A favorite sppt- ' 

to plant a -slug from his Colt's, Frontier •v4a , is the/ f^ 
: , o'r left shoulder o'f his' adversary, ^He ri1u.«tlv^t .commit crime ; 
, and riiust'-bc. the deadly roe- pf -rustlcfs, -«)a.d -agents, rascally . 
- sheriffs and crooked igiirnblcrs,-- He .has -tP' -go light orj the 
ibve-making. for he's a .strong, man who hides his emptiP 
And' besides, the kids .ffrpm\:6 to 60-) don't ' • much, ior 
, /■ ' (Continued on page 20) 




. It seemed td .me that iny. friends in HpllywpPd were speridi- ; 
ing all their tinae writihg- a'ds tp . tell, e, palpitating world ; 
:Whom they .were voting for, or ehallenging each, other- tp 
debates'in thie Bowl, .which I gather is the HpllyWpod 'equiva- 
lent for Macy's.w^ 

prised .arid : pleased -therefore. tP learn- 
. that many ..of 'theih had.; tim^ fo read « 
piece that . I wi'bte for a recent iissue bl 
:The. Saturday Review of Litef'atiire en- ' 
titled 'WhaVs . Wrong With Authors' 
Some -of .them: misiuriderstbpd my..-atti>- : 
tilde iri(regair,d:-tp.; nVptiori pictures and ' 
rd iike to explain a: little nib fully. 

' Thei e . y - p'r^Ctically nothing, wrong 
with authors,. I- said,' that ia. . good: s^ 
in Holl:^wpod wouldn't cure, I continued: ' 

'Until a sweeping read j ustment takes place in values 
in the motion picture world, \yriters will not be inter- ; 
. eSted enough in Either books or bbbk publishers, to re- ; 
. gard them as riiuqh: mbre than- little, way -stations bn: the . 
' royal road to Beverly Hills. : Publishers as w^ 
: thor'a have made- ja. -lot .of . money oiit . of nxotion picture 
. rights, and I don't want to -^appf ar to be crying sour 

grapes justrbecause, an . industry that does a gross busi--^ 
. ' ness about 1.00. times bigger than ours^ needs the same . 

raw material, that we db; arid can afford.^^ t^^ pay sp much . ' 
. more for it. ' . '■;'' ■• 

'But how can a. sane sfense of proportion be preserved 
. when, a iPt, bii wprnbut old hacks whp haven't writtien- an 
■ hpnest word or thought an honest, thought for 10 years 
. can still draw a cbiiple of thousand dollars a week tiirn- , 
ing put scenarios, and newcomers whbse. flrst novels are ', 
still wet from the presses are offered contracts that make 
their total earnings frorii their book rights look like a 
lunch check ai the Automat? Tpday the studips don't . 
even wait for a book to. be published before they are pn 
the trail for its author, if he shows sufficient promise. 
• Pne of our ihbst recent discpverles sent the typewritten 
- nianuscript pf his book to the Coast a lew weeks ; ago— . 
and sold it. All that the book will have to do tP earn 
as niuch for him. as he received froni Hollywood is to 
sell about 75,000 copies. 

'The thing that an author wants inPst from his pub- 
lisher these days is .a letter of Intrpductipn to Darryl 
Zanuck. ■' ' \ 

. 'Until Holly wppd . ceases to hold such an irresistible 
allure for every rhan who can wrrite a .book it will be 
hard for a publisher to tell 'what, is wrong with any one. 
particular author because he. doesn't ' see him long - 
enough.' •; 

There is libbody to blanie fbr thfs state pf; Affairs. So long 
is Holly woPd can afford tp pay authors salaries far greater 
than they could possibly get anywhere else, so . long yi'ill all 
but the mbst uncompromising rush out at the first opportu-. 
nity. Arid ; the -fact is that niotion- picture money : today; Is. 
almost as important In the .book publisher's, scheme of . things 
as it is in the author's. 

Stay Away From Hollywood If You 
Would Do Some Worthwhile Writing 

In brief, there are two things that . T think woiild clarify 
the Whole relationship of the picture producers, the authoi-, 
and the publisher. First, I believe that the legitirtiiate book 
authpr should maintain his permanent residence in New. 
York, or wherever he happens to cbme . from, and regard 
his work, in Hollywood as temporary. Once he riioves his 
family to the Coast he becoriies, in effect, ai screen 'vriter; 
and the odds .are 10 tb 1 that he will not write another really 
l|pod book until he comes back hbme. 

I could give many examples to illustrate niy point but you 
know them .just as well as I do, Furthemore, .1 think that 
the author would gain rather than Ipse from a commercial 
point of view by keeping away from the Coast just as Ipng 
as possible. Producers are more and nvore eager to buy the 
rights to every s.uccessful hovel published, and in compari- 
son to what they pay for originals, th. prices paid for some , 
recent nbvels are almost fabulPus. ; . 

This brings - me to - my second, airid . most Important, ' pbiht. 
When ..are the book publishers of America going .to have 
enough coriimon sense to niaite, soriie basic agre^riient', with 
"The Authors League to establish once arid for . all . a -fair di- 
yisibri of inptibn picture j^ights? - , 

: The theatrical producers .did - It long .ago. In the book 
business^ however, every separate deal involves- a hew battle. ■ 

: Leading authors have been able tp freeze their ^publishers, 
put- 0%. picture rights altogether On the other . hand,; , many ' 
unkrieWh; writers; In the.ir eagerness. ^^.t have . their first book 
published, -have allowed /themselyes to be : shanief ully irii- 
pbsed upon, I think that a publisher ;is. entitled to some .share 
in.the picture' rights: of eypry book that he-~publishesl :in the 
ca,se'..of even the gi'eatest'> novelist; the .piiblisher . contributes 
tb the success of the , book ;by ■ hi,sv adyert^ing arid 'exploita-, 
tio'n, I notice that the., agents who. protest mpst; bitterly, - 
against such a suggestion still get their lb.% of picture sales.. 
C.crtalnly the publisher is entitled fo at least the^ame but. 

: ;if a basic ,agreeme.rit; could be reached, setting the pub- 
lisher's: share, Pfpictui^e right!;, at a range of iO'^J' 'niinlriium. to 
20^i maximum, i , believe that the^^^.^^ source - of i.rritaT 
tibri betw.een, th'e'-.authors;-. the publishers, the -agerits,. and the. 
-prbduceirs would be elirninated once, and for, .allV with a re- 
sultant saving of tiriie arid:t<imp'ers:that is Incalculable. , . 

' That gleamirtg axe in the corner of. niy ofTic*^?- I'm saving 
it for the next author who comics back from Hollywood 
with, the manuscript of a sleazy tome that he has ground oiit . 
between picture assigrinientsi and deposits - it' pri .'rny desk 
with.a bondesceridirig '(Jerf, it cost rile-about $l;ip,000 in sal- 
ary from M-GrM to; dp this for.y.ou. ...... V : ' 



8 MCTUBES Thiriyififih P^iiiiEiir Annleerwry Wednesday, January 8, 1941 



Exr Variety' Mugg Jack Lait, Noyf, 
Editor of the 1V;Y. Mirror, Salutes 
A Fprmerty l^iifft^^ Chi 



By Jack: Lait 




They tell me in Ho.lly\yood aad on Brbadway, that 
the surefire theme tbiday must be 'nostalgic^ ^ . " 

For the lOOth ' time or so, '. I j t stojipe'd between 
trains; between; coiists,- in Chicago, , To one who Wias 
long a passiphate and protessional 
Chicagoan, my bid burg grips me ; 
in -not aione ' nostalgia, but the 
. weird- : - creeps ; of . jay)yalki.ng 
through a. graveyard. - : 

The: town; is', big, - thriving <I; 
suppose), sprawling and Stream- 
lined,,? But iti soul has passed. 
For, from shorf^parits days; there, 
; .r was; thrown in. ';with its news- 
papers: and theatres antj ihe Loop. ' 
And of these, the; spiritless skeletons' rattled in rusty 
retrospect, 

. It was . gay town, big-time, individual and sielf- 
contaiiied. We dpwrted oiir bourbon; at. this bar. To 
us Chicago was the biggest and liyest city, on earth,: 
The stockyards smieli filled our lusty lungs. We loved 
and ive", lived, -we played . and; we . worked; in a .com- 
munity of millions, everyone who was anyone: kneiw 
everyone else who was sbineone— and that was dcr 
■termiried not by money or position, but by person 
and enthusiasm^ ■ .. :. -:■;■ ■ ,■ " 

iS' Newspapers Had Chi 
. When 1 sold newspapers, we had 13 ^to sell— seven ■ 
morning and six evening. .Now ; there aire four— one 
morning! Loc?(i jiews was king. - We looked on cable- 
stiifF as hiinks .of nothing chiseled . out of valuable 
iSpaiQe • that could - and ishould have been used to tell - 
about aU that mattered— Chicago. For a paragraph we 
offered our livlSs. ' We served our city editors with ' 
.keener zeal than we gave to our flajg; or bur Deity. 

A fire on Wabash Avenuti' was more : important than 
a war in Wirsaw. And why shouldn't it be? 

Gone, all gonie. .Chicago is just: a big Fort Wayne,, 
with, standardized chain7store and prepared-package 
protective colPration blending irito the drab national 
picture. It's smart to be respectable, conventional and 
methodical. ; That may be for, the best— but it's not 
Chicago. 

And a Mess, of Yaodevllle 

Those were the days when we: had three two-a-day 
vaudes^the Haymarket/ Chicago Opera House and 
Olympic. We had a couple of dozen legit houses and' 
played thie best in road attractions as well as, always, 
hoihe-made shows that the town supported^ jgood or 
Ipusyi A Chicago dramatic critic was a national figure, 
and when he came tp New Yprk the Belascos, Hay- 
mans, Wbodses and Erlangers came down oil their 
thrones. : 

We had a season of family-time vaudeville, in the 
city limits aiid Jini Wingfleld could book ypu a year of 



pne and two-nighters without asking New York's per- 
mussiuil. We had a .dozen long-lived; producing outfits, 
and song-publishers of our bwn ahd Chicagp was a 
metrppblitari ccnler,>nPt an outpost. The big theatres 
were home-owned and .the owners were, mighty figures 
/ there- ami anywhere. 

, Wc had cafes kndwn around the globe-^De Jonghe's, 
: Schlpgrs. ,ybge)s8ng*s, . Kuntz; '& Remmler's^ Red 
' Star, the . Gpliege liiri, the Bismark,; HenHci^s. • Some 

are still thefie.' But they are nbt, kno'wn around the 
-';'glpbe. now. ;; v ' ■ ;■';■.::■ 

- And Lots , of Other li^hlnKis 
; ; : We had the best liqupr, thie worst graftei'Sj' the most 
notpi'ious ; red light, .district, the briskest ;;bree2es,^;the 
craftiest crooks, the tbughej^t ^ killers and the coziest 
; hpmes oh;.earth, . We did .more work and. dbWned. more 
hootch than any community could match. We loved 
our families though we didn't see much bl themi. • We 
: had never heard of a hangover, we kept the! faith with 
flne another and we- laughed at the 'dudes fr'pm New 
York who wore gloves and spats. and ordered cocktails;^ 
we never ordered at all-^the barkeep smiiled and shot 
the bottle down the bar. . 

. I^knew niore important people when I was a raikfi<^ 
21-year-6ld reporter in ' Chicago than; J ,do how.;,..A^^ 
I !felt ^mpre importahtf .myself. :! Waj a person.. I was 
ffeshi independent, robust, loyal, fearle^^ aihd' free- 
swinging individualist— sentimental, hard-boiled, a song 
in my hl^art and brass kniicks in my kick. . "Tomorrow 
bpthertd: me; none— 1 had a lot to do today. And Chi- 
.cagO.; would take care of me, no matter ; what;- The 
;: . town wais my. mother. . I fought for it, took, fi'bm it, 
gay.e ;tb it '$hd was safe in its arms. ■ ; , 

^ Bnt . Also , -Its ;',pwn;.-.C^ 

When I was making $20 a week I could pass the hat 
.. up and down Randolph Stireet and borrow ; $ltf,OOQ. 
When I was making $25 a week,' I'owed the. Sherman 
House $1,700 on tiabs, ^Tbday^ . they^ teli mie, if ; ypii. 
don*t piay off in Chicago, they' croak you,; In those 
; days they just wduldn't talk to you. That was enough. 
. You had to play fair, in your own yard. 

Any time I didn't like . my; job or niy job/didn't like 
. me; I could walk across the street and hang up my hat. 
We all knew, each other and all respected each other. 
1 once punched niy i^ahaging editor's nephevv , in the 
npse and befpre ; the editor Snbw Wbput it I was pn 
anpther. paper-^didn-t want tp; embarrass my ^boss; he 
was a good egg. ' 

I moved among the gangsters arid ;thieves free; and; 
unafraid, I wrote the inside. "They knew I had to and 
that it had tp be. I never heard of. a newspaperman 
being hurt before Jake Lirigles— who pnce was hiy 
copyrboy; he matured in a later period and worked 
: differently, or he wouldn't have been shot; either. , 

We might be battling the mayor, but . I. had the 
private number, of his gal's flat and could raise him at 
any hour of the night-rand get my storyi too. He knew 
I wouldn't lie about him or tip! off private stuff. I had 
enpugh iicandal in my mental nbte-bbok to break, up 
half the better .families in town. They didn't Worry 
about it. 

There will never be again a Chicago as I knew it, 
for it had all the, cosmopolitan attributes of a world 
center and all the neighborly honieyness of a village. 
It was unique, a growth- and not a. systerii. ' 

. Nostalgia? Nonsiense! ■ 



W WESHNER HEAD 
OF UA EXPLOITATION 

David E. 'iSkip' Weshner, who.was 
named last week to head the United 
Artists exploitation department, will 
talce over the reins i»xt Monday 
(13 ). his resignation as zone manager 
for first-run and key ^abe theatres 
for Warner Bros, in Philly becomes 
effebtive this Friday (10). He held 
that post since 1934. 

Weshner mpves into the sppt va- 
cated by Mpnroc Greenthal's step- 
ping up tP UA pub-ad head, fpllpw- 
ihg the departure of Lynn Farnpl. 
Greehthal, it Is said, was given a" 
free hand and a ;money-is-no-object 
carte blanche to select his suc- 
cessor, with the result that his choice 
his won unanimous approval of UA 
execs and producers alike. 
; Before joining WB, Weshner was 
pub-ad head and g.m. of the Stanley- 
Fabian chain of 60 theatres; prodiic- 
tlon manager of Action Pictures in 
Holly wood; prez oif . Weshner-David- 
son. Advertising agency and editor of 
Slotibn Picture Post. ; ' 

Ohiy step in reorganization of the 
UA piiblicity temaihihg is the 
naming of a head of the; Hollywood 
bureaii; . Appbintment is expected 
within a week or so. . 

. Giablie Succeeds Weshner - 
- Philadelphia, Jan. ;5. 
Maurice Gable,; manager of .the 
Staniey-r Warner Boyd, named man- 
ager of the central city district for; 
the chain to siicceed 'Skip* -Wesh- 
ner. Gable has been associated, with 
Warners for the past 10 years, most 
of the time, as - manager of down- 
town first run houses. 

; HOIlywobd, Jan. 5' 
Barbara Stanwyck bicycled from 
Paramount, to Warners to .finish two 
pictures in one day.; First job was a 
single sound track shot, for 'The. Lady 
Eve'" at Par. 

Second was a new ehding for the 
Frank Gapra , picture, 'Meet ; John 
Doe.' 



Berkeley's 'Ziegf eld' Flash 

Hollywood, Jan. 5. 
Busby Berkeley will create and di- 
rect two dance numbers for Metro's 
'Zlegfeld Girl' before he starts direc- 
tion of 'Lady Be Good' on the Culver 
City lot. 

Production numbers will . be built 
around the ditties, 'Yoia Stepped Out 
of a'Dream' and 'Minnie From Trini- 
dad.' . ' . 



Six Sealed bf 20tli 



; Hollywood, Jan. 5. 
^ 20th -Fox handed out new contracts 
to a director, .a cameraman and four 
•players. 

Director is Irving Pichel, oamera- 
inan is Leon Shamroy, and players 
are Joan Davis, Laird Cregar, Rob- 
ert Cornell and Stanley Clements. 



BalatenVH. (L Address^ 



Barney Balaban, president of 
Paramount, addressed the honie of- 
fice forces Tuesday .night (^ ) at com- 
pany headquarters; j He discussed: 
theatre; operation and .bther -phases 
ol the picture industi-y ais part Of a' 
series established: to better ncquaiht 
everyone in Par with its activities, 
filnV background, etc.; 
. eiaude Lee, • , hirnself for mapy ■ 
years in theatre, operation and foir- 
merly with the E. J-rSparks circuiV 
but how in a h.ip. executive post un- 
der , Balaban, presided at thei nieet- 

ing;;' ■■,;;;:,-■■..;:; .■■ \-,:/^'-: 



Ddnleyy's 1*ar Pe^^^ 

Hollywood, Jan. 5. 
]ParaiT)PUnt renewed Brian.' Don- . 
levy's acting "coiitract, calling for two 
pictures and an oiptibn on a third in 
1941; Currently the actor is working 
in 'Billy the Kid' at Metro and has a 
cbhimitmerit for the role of O. Henry 
in the Boris.. Moi-ro.STRobert Stillman 
picture. .'American Vagabond.', 
i His- fir.st filfn ,at- Pat ■undw hew 
pact will be the William Wcllmari 
production, 'Pioneer Woman.' 



Shidio Contracts 



Hollywood, . Jan. 5. • ; 
Lloyd Bridges inked a player pact 
at Columbia. , 
" Phil Terry dl:ew; ., new -acting: 
ticket; at Pararnount. , . / ; 

Cblumbi signed Dale yaii; Every, 
scripter. .• ■';: ;' >' •'.',•■ .■ 

RK6 handed player contract to 
Jack Briggs; .• 

Metro contracted Richard ■Haydei, 
singing|. actor; 

■ Robert James Smith penned , ah 
acting pact at RKO;, ' . ' 

. Jackie; Horner's minor contract 
with, Metro, approved ;by Suipbribr 
court. ■';'.-/ 

Emnifett Lynn drew a new player 
deal at RKO. , 



II. S. NEWSREELS' 

cosnrEST year 



By MIKE WEAR 

Cost of covering the European 
war, the. U. Si presidential campaign 
and lipped expenditures for football 
tnade the past year the, most, expen- 
sive operating period ever recorded 
by the five American nbwsreels. Ad- 
:ditibnally, the Nazi blitz through the 
lowland countries and France, with 
Hitler's subsequent order to U. -S. 
newsreels to quit operations in lands 
he had. cbnquiered, ;re^preseht(ed ' a 
heavy writeoff for most U. S.; reels. 

Despite joint coverage On many 
stories on the "European war front, 
increased insurance rates, upped 
transportation and ' communication 
fees probahly added $35;000 to the 
ordinary operating costs in . 1940, 
Sudden Nazi, drive wiped out about 
$50,000 worth of equipment and 
stock of two or three subsids work- 
ing ■ France - and . Belgium for, 
American, newsreels. . 

Intensified political campaign, by 
the . two. leading parties last fall 
represented ah outlay of about 
$40,000 for thb five hewsreel Outfits, 
Gridiron stories, which have been 
more costly with leach succeeding 
season, , ;set the- reels 'back . nearly 
.$50,(|0(), with an additional extra 
$5,000 or more spent for the world 
series. ; ;. ..'■. 

Hitler's edict against continuing In 
Belgiurii, Hblland, . Germany ; and 
France wiped out a. weekly profit of 
$1,000 in each/ of these countries for 
Paramount- and Mbvietone, which 
had complete : hewsreel. units in 
those terr